Psalms

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As one of the most eloquent books of the Bible, the Book of Psalms contains 150 poems, representing the entire range of religious behaviors that one should embody in order to effectively practice their faith. Some of these Psalms are incredibly famous, such as the 23rd Psalm, while others with equally important messages have faded into relative obscurity. The great majority of the Psalms are said to have been written by David, but there are a few written by other Biblical figures. The longest Psalm is Psalm 119, with 176 verses, while the shortest Psalm is Psalm 117, with only two verses. The various Psalms have a multitude of purposes:

• Some Psalms are construed as hymns, seen as songs of praise and devotion to God and other heavenly figures
• Thanksgiving Psalms
• Wisdom Psalms
• Psalms of lamentation

Though written before the arrival of Jesus Christ, the 23rd Psalm provides a connection between the Old Testament figure of David and the New Testament figure of Jesus. The notion of the shepherd in Christian literature evokes feelings of safety and protection by a blessed figure; David himself was a shepherd and Jesus is a symbolic shepherd for all of mankind. This Psalm is used widely in Christian tradition, from routine church services to holy days such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, to funerary services. The connection between the Christian and their Lord, is one of protection, dedication, and love, just as the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep symbolizes much of the same. Again, while there are numerous poems in the Book of Psalms that present an equally-striking message to readers, it is this Psalm that is arguably the most famous and most widely-used.