I’m sure I’m not the only who has trouble with the Psalms. There can be several ‘voices’ within a Psalm and I get confused who is speaking to whom and sometimes, about what. It’s been an ongoing challenge for me but I haven’t given up the fight.
In that fight for understanding, one of our deaconesses recommended Christ in the Psalms by Patrick Henry Reardon (ya gotta love that name, lol!). He is an Archpriest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and is an author, lecturer, podcaster, and senior editor of Touchstone. I don’t know when he sleeps but that’s neither here nor there. Sometimes, the things he writes, how he expresses his understanding, takes my breath away. A sign of deep knowledge, I believe, is the ability to take a difficult topic and explain it so that even ‘the least among us’ can understand. He does not take more than a page and a half to discuss each Psalm. Even the dreaded 119th. I would suggest, to those who feel quite comfortable with the Psalms (may you be many times blessed), that you read Christ in the Psalms for the sheer beauty of Reardon’s writing.
A couple of years ago, I saw this video on YouTube and I was touched. And charmed. And delighted. After watching the video, I wondered what we might be missing in our understanding of the Psalms. With that in mind, through a very circuitous route, I was directed to try Tehillim. It’s the book of Psalms from the Jewish perspective. This morning I tackled – which is too harsh a word, it was great fun- Psalms 1 and 2. I like to think I looked really intelligent if someone saw me at my desk with three books open – I sat with King James, Patrick Henry, and Reb Ohel Yosef and the four of us endeavored to suck the wonderful juices from the Psalms. We four are just starting this journey together so I may have more to write some time in the future. I do want to give thanks to A. L., the gentleman on YT who directed me toward Tehillim in English and who has promised to help with any questions I may have. Right away, Psalm 2, my question is who is being referred to as regards “The Lord said to me, You are my son; I have this day begotten you”. Christians believe it is Jesus but I’m looking forward to finding out the Jewish perspective.
I hope you get as much enjoyment from the video as I did – and continue to do every time I watch it.
All Along the Watchtower 
About 20 years ago I started reading an Orthodox Jewish commentary on the Psalms alongside St Augustine’s version of the same. As I recall it was enormously stimulating. Unfortunately because of a sudden family bereavement I was unable to finish the project, perhaps I should think about restarting.
On general principles I think that those commentaries which see the Psalms as primarily prayers are of more usefulness to those who say the Office than those commentaries which see Psalms as historical artefacts. Understanding historical context is no bad thing but it is not always absolutely necessary in helping us form an ever more close and loving bond to the Good God.
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Would you happen to have the complete title of the commentary you were using?
Tehillim is a beautiful book, beautifully finished. As it came from a Jewish publisher, it opens at the back (maybe some folks don’t know that Jews read from left to right) with the Hebrew on the right page and common English on the left side. The rabbi who did the translation gives a sentence or two before each Psalm, such as before Psalm 1 (he uses English numbering – perhaps I should call it KJV numbering as opposed to the Hebrew numbering – he writes “This psalm inspires man to study Torah and avoid sin. One who follows this path is assured of success in all his deeds, whereas the plight of the wicked is the reverse.” While it is lovely, I should have tried to find a commentary, as that was my original aim.
Thanks, Thoughfully.
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Depending on the passage, various references to God’s Son are typically understood as references to Israel, the Messiah, or the King of Israel (whether by rerence to the office or meaning David or Solomon specifically). It is important to note that there are two primary issues in apologetics with Israel: 1. Is the passage speaking of the Messiah and 2 did Jesus of Nazareth fulfil the passage. In lots of cases you will find Jewish people agree that a passage is about the Messiah, but will then meet disagreement about whether Jesus fulfilled/will fulfil it.
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Yes, I understand there’s going to be disagreement between how a Christian understands that passage and how the Jews understand it but I wondered – the-not-yet-arrived ‘Messiah’ or David or who? I’m still waiting for the gentleman to respond to me.
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I think that it was by Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer, although at this distance in time I can’t be absolutely certain
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Thank you! That gives me a starting point. I was also given chabad.org for information.
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Funnily enough, I had thought about doing a series on the Psalms, with an emphasis on their Messianic prophecies. It is important to remember that they are an intense form of communication.
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Nicholas – I need all the help I can get; why not do a “Psalms for Dummies”?
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I am tempted to do that.
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Psalm 2 is essentially eschatological in nature. 2:9 is quoted several times in Revelation.
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