Comments on: Singing the Psalms: a Reformed lectionary

By: David T. Koyzis

David T. Koyzis — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:26:54 +0000

Alison, it’s wonderful to hear from someone for whom the Bible is still so new and fresh. I myself was steeped in the scriptures from early childhood, yet each reading brings fresh insights. I don’t think it’s possible ever to have enough of them.

By: Alison

Alison — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:10:17 +0000

I am always interested in your posts on the Psalms. Even though I come from a different tradition than you do, I think the book you mentioned by Witvliet sounds informative, and I would like to check it out. I have only been regularly reading the Psalter for a short time–as I have mentioned before–but I find myself finding more grounding in my faith now that I am familiar with certain Psalms and when I recognize the topic of the Psalm in my daily lectionary reading. I am becoming more familiar with some of the “Suffering Servant” Psalms because my lectionary has readings for those Psalms on Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, I am enjoying some of the Psalms in the 100s that detail the early history of the Jews. Now that I have read the Pentateuch these Psalms make a lot of sense! Truly there are so many riches in Scripture, but you already know that!

By: David T. Koyzis

David T. Koyzis — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:48:45 +0000

By the way, I found all this by way of George van Popta's blog: Singing through the psalter. A friend of mine has posted an English-language version.

By: David T. Koyzis

David T. Koyzis — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:46:46 +0000

John Witvliet has written on this topic in Worship Seeking Understanding: windows into christian practice (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003). See especially chapter 9, “The Spirituality of the Psalter in Calvin’s Geneva,” pp. 203-229, where he discusses such matters as which psalms were given priority in the translation and versification process. (Hint: they weren’t the psalms of praise!) I believe here also is where he treats this lectionary. (I don’t have the book in front of me, so I’m going on memory.)

By: RS

RS — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:45:24 +0000

So that works out to 2-4 Psalms per service, 1 or 2 at a time, in 3 services per week? That would be doable for many contemporary American congregations already accustomed to liturgical Bible readings of a chapter or so in length. It is about how many Psalms are recited at a time in those 1928 Prayer Book Anglican parishes selecting their Psalms for Morning and Evening Prayer from the Lectionary, rather than the monthly cycle.

If it worked in Geneva, there may not be good reason to toy with it, but why the jumping around? And, if you’re going to jump around, is that truly a Calvinist approach, or is it papistical? [I mean that as a sincere question, not accusatory.] Why not just start at Psalm 1 and divide the Psalter in 150 segments (2 Sunday morning, 2 Sunday evening, 2 mid-week, over 25 weeks) of more equal length than David set up? If you’re going to jump around, I think it would be better to tie the Psalms with other aspects of the Church’s yearly or semesterly liturgy.