Situational Psalms
Many of you are now in the midst of memorizing Psalms for our annual Psummer Psalms (thanks to Daron Drown for organizing this event every year). This is where you pick a Psalm, memorize it, and then recite it with your parish sometime in August.
Why should Christians memorize the Psalms? C.S. Lewis said of the Psalms, “These strange, alien figures may at any moment show that, in spiritual descent (as opposed to cultural) it is they, after all, who are our ancestors.” If the Psalms are our ancestors, then we are cheating our heritage if we are severed from them. When Christians live in the moment irrespective of their past, they are missing something. When they ignore the Psalms, they download Spotify trash. They know this is an artificial substitute. They know they are missing something. But since gaining it back takes discipline, and since smothering the imagination is easier than memorizing ancient hymns, they block out their fathers. They fail to realize that by blocking their fathers they block the God of their fathers.
They are also blocking their humanity. It’s strange to think how Christians today are quite fanatically fond of emotions, yet exhibit a mysterious disinterest in the Psalms. The Psalter is filled with raw emotions that the modern age tries to cover up. This is why modern music cultivates anger, resentment, jealousy, and lust rather than training your soul that there is a righteous method for arbitrating every emotion. The Psalmists are rarely polished or dignified. Few people are when they are buried under their sin (Psalm 51), or an enemy (Psalm 5), or endless waiting for God to answer (Psalm 88). Yet the Psalms provide a spiritual scrubbing for the dark corners of every situation. They also provide the proper lustration for the bright days of thanksgiving and praise.
There are certain Psalms suited to certain occasions. At least that’s how Athanasius saw it when he wrote a letter to a young man named Marcellinus directing him to study the Psalms. What follows is a list of the Psalms Athanasius matched to the occasion.
Repentance
Psalms 3, 51
Expressions of Faith and Prayer
Psalms 11, 12
Personal suffering renders praise to God
Psalms 54, 56, 57, 142
Narrative in form
Psalms 73, 78, 114, 115
Hortatory
Psalms 32, 97, 103
Prophetic
Psalms 22, 45, 47, 110
Resurrection of Christ
Psalms 16, 66
Psalms about the Savior
Psalms 3, 21, 22, 24, 45, 47, 50, 69, 72, 109, 110
Benefits derived from the Savior’s Passion
Psalms 93, 96, 98, 99
Prayers to God
Psalm 6, 16, 54, 102
Denounce the wicked
Psalm 14
Declare another to be blessed
Psalms 1, 32, 41, 112, 119, 128
Persecuted by your own family and opposed by many
Psalm 3
Give thanks to God for your afflictions end
Psalms 4, 75, 116
When the wicked want to ensnare you
Psalm 5
If you feel yourself beneath a cloud of God’s displeasure
Psalms 6, 38
When you see the boundless pride of many, and evil passing great, and no holy thing remains
Psalm 12
If the state of things is long drawn out
Psalm 27
If you hear others blaspheme the providence of God
Psalms 14, 5
If you want to learn what sort of person is a citizen of God’s kingdom
Psalm 15
If you have been led astray by others’ arguments
Psalm 137
When being tempted
Psalm 139
If you desire to be free of the enemy
Psalm 140
If you feel downcast and poor
Psalms 102, 103, 104
Why and how to praise God
Psalms 105, 107, 113, 117, 135, 146-150
Prayer and supplication
Psalms 5, 141, 142, 143, 146
Trust in God to defeat Goliath
Psalm 144
Thanksgiving, Praise, Jubilation
Psalms 8, 98, 117, 125
Praise God for his kindness and goodness
Psalm 105
Praise God
Psalms 105, 106, 107, 111-118, 135, 136, 146-150
Athanasius’ letter goes on to further categorize the Psalms. If you’d like to read the entire letter, click here.
Why should Christians memorize the Psalms? C.S. Lewis said of the Psalms, “These strange, alien figures may at any moment show that, in spiritual descent (as opposed to cultural) it is they, after all, who are our ancestors.” If the Psalms are our ancestors, then we are cheating our heritage if we are severed from them. When Christians live in the moment irrespective of their past, they are missing something. When they ignore the Psalms, they download Spotify trash. They know this is an artificial substitute. They know they are missing something. But since gaining it back takes discipline, and since smothering the imagination is easier than memorizing ancient hymns, they block out their fathers. They fail to realize that by blocking their fathers they block the God of their fathers.
They are also blocking their humanity. It’s strange to think how Christians today are quite fanatically fond of emotions, yet exhibit a mysterious disinterest in the Psalms. The Psalter is filled with raw emotions that the modern age tries to cover up. This is why modern music cultivates anger, resentment, jealousy, and lust rather than training your soul that there is a righteous method for arbitrating every emotion. The Psalmists are rarely polished or dignified. Few people are when they are buried under their sin (Psalm 51), or an enemy (Psalm 5), or endless waiting for God to answer (Psalm 88). Yet the Psalms provide a spiritual scrubbing for the dark corners of every situation. They also provide the proper lustration for the bright days of thanksgiving and praise.
There are certain Psalms suited to certain occasions. At least that’s how Athanasius saw it when he wrote a letter to a young man named Marcellinus directing him to study the Psalms. What follows is a list of the Psalms Athanasius matched to the occasion.
Repentance
Psalms 3, 51
Expressions of Faith and Prayer
Psalms 11, 12
Personal suffering renders praise to God
Psalms 54, 56, 57, 142
Narrative in form
Psalms 73, 78, 114, 115
Hortatory
Psalms 32, 97, 103
Prophetic
Psalms 22, 45, 47, 110
Resurrection of Christ
Psalms 16, 66
Psalms about the Savior
Psalms 3, 21, 22, 24, 45, 47, 50, 69, 72, 109, 110
Benefits derived from the Savior’s Passion
Psalms 93, 96, 98, 99
Prayers to God
Psalm 6, 16, 54, 102
Denounce the wicked
Psalm 14
Declare another to be blessed
Psalms 1, 32, 41, 112, 119, 128
Persecuted by your own family and opposed by many
Psalm 3
Give thanks to God for your afflictions end
Psalms 4, 75, 116
When the wicked want to ensnare you
Psalm 5
If you feel yourself beneath a cloud of God’s displeasure
Psalms 6, 38
When you see the boundless pride of many, and evil passing great, and no holy thing remains
Psalm 12
If the state of things is long drawn out
Psalm 27
If you hear others blaspheme the providence of God
Psalms 14, 5
If you want to learn what sort of person is a citizen of God’s kingdom
Psalm 15
If you have been led astray by others’ arguments
Psalm 137
When being tempted
Psalm 139
If you desire to be free of the enemy
Psalm 140
If you feel downcast and poor
Psalms 102, 103, 104
Why and how to praise God
Psalms 105, 107, 113, 117, 135, 146-150
Prayer and supplication
Psalms 5, 141, 142, 143, 146
Trust in God to defeat Goliath
Psalm 144
Thanksgiving, Praise, Jubilation
Psalms 8, 98, 117, 125
Praise God for his kindness and goodness
Psalm 105
Praise God
Psalms 105, 106, 107, 111-118, 135, 136, 146-150
Athanasius’ letter goes on to further categorize the Psalms. If you’d like to read the entire letter, click here.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
February
March
June
July
August
September
October
November
2024
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
September
2023
January
April