ABSTRACT
Throughout its life the Church has maintained two equally important traditions relating to the psalms. One has to do with the use of psalms in prayer and song to God. The other concerns the use of the psalms for the instruction and guidance of the faithful. Athanasius thought of Israel's history, as represented in the psalms, as an allegory for the Christian life. Only a few New Testament passages speak of the role of psalms as words spoken or sung to God in worship. Already in their earliest use the psalms fulfilled a dual role, as both words to God and words from God; words to be said as well as words to be heard. In the very early Church the psalms gained much more prominence in their function as words to be heard and listened to, than in their function as words to say to God.
