Praying the Psalms. The psalms were prayed by the Jews and Christianity continued that practice to this day. In Monasteries, the Psalter is prayed through once a week. During Lent this is increased to twice a week. Bishops, prior to ordination, are supposed to be able to quote the Psalms by heart. ( I am not sure I would want to test them, but that is the standard).
In our practice, the Psalms is organized into 20 Kathisma with each Kathisma consisting of 3 Stasis.
For example, Kathisma I is Psalms 1-8. Stasis 1 is 1-3, Stasis 2 is 4-6, and Stasis 3 is 7,8. In between each Stasis, short prayers are said.
Here is an online website to see as an example.
The Dynamic Horologion And Psalter : Single Kathisma 1
and here is the weekly schedule from the same website.
The Dynamic Horologion And Psalter : Psalter Schedule
As you can see one Kathisma is read in the evening and two in the morning.
That is the liturgical structure to Praying the Psalms, but understanding "how" to pray them as a Christian can be another story.
First we must see Christ in EVERY Psalm. So how can we do this?
Take Psalm 1 for example. Often this is read as a list of blessings for the Righteous man. Take up your bible and read it again, or quote it from memory BUT this time read it in the way the the Church Fathers interpreted the text. the Man is the Lord Jesus Christ not you or me. This transforms our understanding. We see the Psalm as the way Jesus lived his life and how we are called to live, but JESUS should be seen as the focus! Psalm 1 describes the entirety of Jesus life.
Then we prayerfully meditate on Him. For me the Psalm becomes like the hymn, "O to be Like Him!"
In my bible, I made a margin note sometime in the past for vs 3 referring back to Creation. How everything in creation produced fruit after its own Kind and in its season EXCEPT for man after the fall. That man, Adam, is me, fallen. But the Man in vs 3 does what? produces fruit in season! How glorious are thy works oh Lord in wisdom thou has made them all!
Take that example and see if it sheds any light.
Without knowing your specific Psalm but using the ones you mentioned, and using the first rule of Biblical interpretation for us, I look to see where those Psalms are used in the Church services. Psalm 54 and 55 are prayed daily at the 6th hour, the hour of crucifixion. They are Psalms dealing with betrayal and crucifixion. Pray/read them with this in mind.
An example of the 6th hour usage can be found here.
The Dynamic Horologion And Psalter : The Sixth Hour
Finally, a word to how to "pray" enemies. The testimony of the early church on this thunderous. When reading the Psalms almost universally the interpretation is to give the meaning of our passions and sins to the word enemies.
"When my enemies rise up against me...." -> Temptation is strong....
PS 56:3 for example is a GREAT passage for this. It could be our own passions and sins or could refer to demonic activity.
Also I just noted the phrase there, "War against me from on high". Where are we supposed to reside as Christians? In our Hearts, not in our heads. An ancient practice is to bring the mind/reason/brain down into the heart. End the WAR against ourselves. The one which St Paul alluded to, what I want to do I do not do etc... How often is our own mind (from on high), our own worst enemy? How often do we rationalize our actions and justify not doing what we know to be right? O Lord purify my nous (scriptural term for heart and mind working together). Bring the mind down into the heart. So thank you for helping me pray PS 56:3 today.
Christ is Ascended!
From Earth to Heaven!
