Many believers use the Psalms as a prayer book. It is also primarily God’s hymn book. From the early church the Psalter has been both the prayer and hymn book of the church. The author indicates this for the apostolic church and the church of the early church fathers. He continues with the Middle Ages and the Reformed tradition. Next, he provides a description of the decline of the appreciation for the Psalms from early in the 19th century. The chapter ends off with a short discussion of benefits of the singing of Psalms as part of Christian worship.