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The table below is divided into three
sections: (1) Messianic Psalms; (2) Christ as Singer of the Psalms; (3)
Christ as Lord of the Psalms. Under each section, three columns
designate, in this order: (a) a passage from the Psalter; (b) the place
in the New Testament where that passage is cited or referenced; (c) the
citation itself and, where necessary, some explanation. This table
demonstrates how the interpretation of the Psalms in the light of Christ
and as prayer texts about Christ, prayed with Christ, and prayed to
Christ is already an integral part of the faith of the earliest
Christians. Thank you to Fr Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B., for his work
in assembling these passages and allowing me to adapt it for this web
site. |
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| 1. MESSIANIC PSALMS |
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| The Messiah and His Kingdom |
| Ps 2:1-2 |
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Acts 4:25-26 |
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"Why did the gentiles rage ... against the Lord and against his
Anointed [Christ]" |
| Ps 2:7 |
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Heb 1:5, 5:5
Acts 19:15 |
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"Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee" |
| Ps 2:9 |
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Rev 19:15 |
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"he shall rule them [the nations] with a rod of iron"
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| Ps 88:4-5 |
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cf. Acts 2:30 |
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"God had sworn an oath to him [David] that he would set one of his
descendants upon his throne" |
| Ps 109:1 |
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Christ applies this verse to
himself in Mt 22:44, Mk 12:36, Lk 20:42-43. In the same sense, see Acts
2:34-35. Christ will sit at the right hand of God: Mt 26:64, Mk 14:62,
Lk 22:69. The Ascension: Mk 16:19, Rom 8:34, 1 Cor 15:25, Eph 1:20, Col
3:1, Heb 1:3, 8:1, 10:13, 12:2. Christ superior to the angels: Heb 1:13.
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"The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies beneath thy feet" |
| Ps 109:4 |
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Jn 12:34 |
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"the Christ remains for ever" |
| Ps 109:4 |
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Heb 5-7 |
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Citation and commentary
on, "after the order of Melchizedech" |
| Ps 131:11 |
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Acts 2:30 |
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"A son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne" |
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| The Eschatological Kingdom |
| Ps 46:9 |
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Rev 3:21 |
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"I will grant him to sit with me on my throne [Christ is speaking]" |
| Ps 96:7 |
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Heb 1:6 |
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"Let all God's angels worship him [the Christ]" |
| Ps 97:2-3 |
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Acts 28:28 |
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"the Gentiles ... the salvation of God"
"The Lord has made known his salvation has
shown his justice to the nations"
cf. also Ps 66:3: "So will your ways be known upon earth, and all
nations learn your saving help." |
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2.
CHRIST AS THE SINGER OF THE PSALMS |
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| Ps 6:4 |
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Jn 12:27 |
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"now is my soul troubled"
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| Ps 6:9 |
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Lk 13:27 |
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"depart from me, all you
workers of iniquity" |
| Ps 15:8-11 |
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Acts 2:25-28, 31 |
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citation beginning: "For
David says concerning him [the Christ]...." and including the words,
"thou wilt not ... let thy Holy One see corruption ...." A prophecy of
the resurrection of Christ. Cf. also Acts 15:35, 37. |
| Ps 21:2 |
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Mt 27:46, Mk 15:34 |
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"My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?" |
| Ps 21:8 |
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Mt 27:39, Mk 15:29 |
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"And those who passed by
derided him, wagging their heads..." a descrption of the condition of
the suffering Christ |
| Ps 21:9 |
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Mt 27:43 |
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"He trusts in God..." on
the lips of the adversaries of the psalmist, but also understood to be
descriptive of the sentiments of Christ in his Passion |
| Ps 21:19 |
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Jn 19:24, cf. Mt 27:35, Mk 15:24 |
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"They parted my garments
among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" |
| Ps 21:23 |
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Heb 2:12 |
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"I will proclaim thy name
to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee"
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| Ps 30:6 |
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Lk 23:46 |
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"into your hands I commend
my spirit" |
| Ps 34:19 Ps 68:5 |
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Jn 15:25 |
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"They hated me without a
cause" |
| Ps 37:12 |
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Lk 23:49 |
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"and all his acquaintances
... stood at a distance" |
| Ps 39:7-9 |
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Heb 10:5-10 |
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"Here am I, O Lord, I come
to do your will" |
| Ps 40:10 |
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Jn 13:18, cf. Mk 14:18 |
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"He who ate my bread has
lifted his heel against me" |
| Ps 41:6, 12 Ps 42:5 |
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Mt 26:38, Mk 14:34, cf. Jn 12:27 |
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"My soul is very
sorrowful..." |
| Ps 68:10 |
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Jn 2:17 |
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:"Zeal for thy house will
consume me" |
| Ps 68:10 |
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Rom 15:3 |
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"The reproaches of those
who reproached thee fell on me" |
| Ps 68:22 |
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Mt 27:34.48, Mk 15:36, Lk 23:36, Jn 19:28 |
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The words: "I thirst" ...
"gall" ... "vinegar" |
| Ps 77:2 |
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Mt 13:35 |
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"I will open my mouth in a
parable" |
| Psalms 112-117 |
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At the Last Supper, Christ sang these "Hallel"
Psalms (112-117) with his apostles. They express in the first person the
sentiments of Christ, and evoke, in a particular way, certain
circumstances of his Passion, and thus are considered to be the "prayers
of Christ." |
| Ps 115:13 |
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"The cup of salvation I
will take up" |
| Ps 115:15 |
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"Precious in the sight of
the Lord is the death of his faithful one" |
| Ps 117:17 |
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"I shall not die, I shall
live" |
| Ps 117:23 |
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Mt 21:42, Lk 20:17, Acts 4:11, Rom 9:33, 1
Pt 2:7 |
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"the stone which the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone" |
| Ps 117:24 |
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"this is the day which the
Lord has made" |
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| 3. CHRIST AS THE
LORD OF THE PSALMS |
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| Ps 7:10 |
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Rev 2:23 |
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"I am he who searches mind
and heart" |
| Ps 8:3 |
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Mt 21:16 |
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"Out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise" |
| Ps 17:3, cf. Ps 131:17 |
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cf. Lk 1:69 |
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horn of salvation |
| Ps 22:1 |
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cf. Rev 7:17 |
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"For the Lamb in the midst
of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs
of living water" |
| Ps 32:6 |
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Cf. Jn 1:3 |
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"through him [the Word]
... they were made" |
| Ps 33:9 |
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1 Pt 2:3 |
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"taste and see that the
Lord is good" |
| Ps 67:19 |
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Eph 4:8 |
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"When he ascended on high,
he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." Here, in the third
person, but in the LXX and the Vulgate, the second person is used and
the Lord is addressed. |
| Ps 88:38 |
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Rev 3:14 |
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"faithful witness" -- in
the LXX and the Vulgate; application to Christ depends on these versions
|
| Ps 94:7-11 |
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Heb 3:7-4:11 |
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Citation and commentary
on: "today, if you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts ...
they shall not enter into my rest" |
| Ps 101:26-28 |
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Heb 1:10-12 |
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"Thou, Lord, didst found
the earth in the beginning ... and thy years will never end" |
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Ps 102:8
Ps 110:4 |
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James 5:11 |
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"the Lord is compassionate
and merciful" -- application to Christ suggested by the preceding words
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| Ps 103:4 |
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Heb 1:7 |
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"Who makes his angels
winds, and his servants flames of fire" |
| Ps 129:8 |
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cf. Mt 1:21, Tit 2:14, Rev 1:5 |
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"he will save his people
from their sins" |
| Ps 22... |
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To these examples one might also add 13
examples of the theme of the shepherd, who is the Lord in Psalm 22 (and
in some other texts of the Old Testament). In the fourth Gospel (John
10), the Good Shepherd is Christ. |
| Ps 30:6 |
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Acts 7:59 |
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"Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit." In this remarkable instance, the martyr Stephen addresses a
prayer from the Psalter directly to Christ |
