***The fact is the OT does not lead anyone to believe in a Christ-like God, otherwise the Jews would have accepted Christ as their Messiah.***
You’d have to try really hard NOT to see Christ in the Psalms, Kosta.
“You’d have to try really hard NOT to see Christ in the Psalms, Kosta.”
I think I agree, Kosta mou! And beyond that, the Psalms are in many ways a sort of spiritual playbook for theosis. In the interests of full disclosure, I add that the Psalms are my absolute favorite book of the OT.
Bingo! You hit the nail on the head, Irish! :)
Is there any wonder why Palsters make up probably over 90% of the Orthodox OT references and why Psalms are included in the Horos and the Divine Liturgy? Most of the readings are done during sittings (kathismata) and standings (staseis) during Matins (morning) and Vespers (evening) prayers. The whole book of Pslams is read at the side of the deceased Orthodox Christian before funeral.
But this is one book of the OT (out of 39 or 46, depending which side of Christianity you are on), based on repentance and belief in merciful and loving God. Psalms mean "praises" in Hebrew, and "songs" in Greek. And this is how we pray, we chant praising God, "Doxa si Kyrie!" They are probably the most "Christian" part all of OT.
There is a reason why early Christians retained that part of the OT as part of Christian worship. They were written in the Babylonian captivity and reflect the repentance that brought Jews back to God, realizing that we have sinned, what they had before we lost it, and expressing hope of being saved from captivity—all the themses present in early Christianity.