Sola Survey: “How to Read the Psalms.”


When was the last time you sat down and enjoyed a collection of poetry? Most of us think we spend little-to-no time reading poems, yet the psalms remain a favorite section of Scripture for Christians everywhere—and they are, in fact, poetry. And despite the frequency with which we enter this beloved book, few of us have gained the skills needed to read the psalms effectively. Given our neglect of this literary form, it helps to learn from a seasoned guide such as Dr. Tremper Longman. In his book How to Read the Psalms, Longman provides us a compact introduction to approaching these transformative texts. Just shy of 150 pages, How to Read the Psalms will serve new and longtime Bible readers alike, providing new insights and quick reminders for those eager to embark into Israel’s hymnbook.

Principles of Bible Study.

Underlying any method of studying the Bible are fundamental beliefs that, when adopted, will guide a student’s study of Scripture. Here are several key principles we found in How to Read the Psalms.

Practices of Bible Study.

Alongside the principles and pitfalls of Bible Study explored in How to Read the Psalms, Dr. Longman also provides several skills we can develop to increase our Bible literacy. This goal of this list is not to be comprehensive but to identify the skills in the book we found most helpful.

Singing to Jesus with Israel.

The psalms are a songbook for God’s people, the inspired guide for communing with our covenant-keeping King. Dr. Longman encourages us to take these prayers on our lips, singing them with Israel’s faithful, echoing the choruses with newfound insight—looking back, rather than ahead, to our Messiah’s arrival. Jesus sang the psalms; now we sing them, not just with him, but to him. David’s Son is both the subject and object of these prayers, voices lifting to enthrone and entrust themselves to this singing Savior. Studying the psalms rigorously empowers us to pray them more faithfully, more fully. As our understanding expands so do our hearts, opening the door of intimacy and faith, drawing our souls into the invisible sanctuary where God’s people never stop praising their praise-deserving Rock (Ps. 18:2), Shepherd (Ps. 23:1) and Healer (Ps. 30:2).

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