Context: The 150 Psalms are the hymnbook and prayerbook of God's people through the centuries — the most quoted book in the NT and the most read throughout the history of Christian and Jewish spirituality. They cover the entire range of human experience before God: ecstatic worship, profound lament, confession of sin, gratitude, cry for help, meditation on the Law, and eschatological hope.

Structure: The Psalter is divided into five "books" (Ps 1–41; 42–72; 73–89; 90–106; 107–150), probably in parallel with the five books of Moses. Authors include David (73 psalms), the sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon, Moses, and many anonymous writers.

Messianic dimension: Many psalms are extensively cited in the NT as fulfilled in Jesus. Psalm 2 — "You are my son; today I have begotten you" — is cited at the Transfiguration and in Hebrews 1. Psalm 22 — "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — is cited by Jesus on the Cross. Psalm 110 — "Sit at my right hand" — is the most quoted OT text in the NT. Psalm 118 — "The stone that the builders rejected" — is applied by Jesus to himself. Psalm 23 — "The Lord is my shepherd" — is probably the most memorized text in all of faith history.