Within a short span of time, two books were published by different publishers, with different points, but with the very same emphasis: It’s good to sing the Psalms. (See book excerpts in this issue.)

In the Reformed Presbyterian Church we are convicted by Scripture that we are directed and compelled to sing psalms. Yes, we should sing them; but also, as we regularly sing them, we love them!

Singing psalms is in many ways its own best apologetic. Here at Crown & Covenant Publications we hear a lot of testimonies about people coming to a conviction about psalm singing. Rarely was it through Scripture study alone, apart from singing psalms, that this occurred. Very frequently, through the singing of psalms, an awareness of their blessing and a conviction about regularly singing them blossomed and grew.

Thus we are glad to see new books that not only encourage psalm singing but provide some context and guidance for singing them knowledgeably. Someone who merely picks up a psalter and begins singing typically faces some significant hurdles:

1) Confusion about terms. You know that “Israel” often connects directly with “the church,” but a new psalm singer often doesn’t—or doesn’t understand the multiplicity of terms used for Israel. As Dr. Robert Godfrey has pointed out, though, there are only a half-dozen or so key concepts that a Christian has to learn to sing the entire psalter with deep understanding.

2) The place of the Old Testament. Related to that point, the OT is underemphasized and undervalued in much of the church, and therefore its meaning and place aren’t well understood.

3) Christ in the Psalms. Partly because of points 1 and 2 above, people don’t readily see the Messiah and Savior who permeates the Psalms.

4) Marginalization of psalms. Because it’s rare to hear a psalm in many churches, psalm singing is strange to people at first.

5) Good singing. With loud organs and worship bands, most Christians don’t have to think about singing well. Since many people learn psalm singing and a cappella singing simultaneously, it can be daunting, and difficult to sing with heart at first. Thus the assistance and encouragement of other psalm singers is important.

As you might know, it is a chief mission of Crown & Covenant Publications to clear away the barriers and hurdles to good psalm singing. Pray with us for God’s blessing in this. This month there are exciting new developments as our sister denomination, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, begins singing from its own new psalter, published by Crown & Covenant. Also this month, we begin a bold initiative to encourage even more psalm singing in the Presbyterian Church in America.

We need not be worried about the Psalms being powerful; they have that power without our help. Thus our job is to bring them to people and to encourage them in psalm singing.