As Reformed Presbyterians, singing the psalms in corporate worship is one of our distinguishing characteristics. Many of us feel blessed to have such a relationship with the psalms. I, particularly, have been blessed by singing the psalms since infancy, and I think there are specific benefits that my experience has given me and other people who have grown up singing the psalms. I hope that hearing about my experience encourages you to remember the benefits of knowing the psalms and to be thankful for your own experience with them.

Learning Theology

The Psalms have helped me gain knowledge of theology. Specifically, the Psalms have taught me a lot about the God that I serve. The first psalm I remember learning was Psalm 147. As a three-year-old, I was singing of God’s supremacy, compassion, omniscience, omnipotence, wisdom, justice, and provision, in that psalm alone.

As I grew, I continued to learn the psalms as I sang them week in and week out. I learned of God’s lovingkindness, deliverance, and faithfulness. My dad began asking me questions about where I could find certain spiritual truths in the Bible. It didn’t matter if the topic was God’s character, His acts of creation and salvation, or something else; I could find my answer in the psalms.

Memorizing Scripture

Along with learning about Scripture came memorizing it. Since I am musically inclined, memorizing the psalms with their metrical tunes came easily to me. After learning psalm 147A, I began to learn many other psalms, particularly after the introduction of The Book of Psalms for Worship. My young brain soaked up the psalms like they were a new language. I now have at least portions of over 100 psalms memorized, simply from singing them, which means the rich theology contained in them is available to me all the time, wherever I am. The beautiful verses of the psalms are my comfort and encouragement as I strive to live for Christ’s glory.

Building Community

Not only have I grown to love the content of the psalms, I have also learned to love singing them in corporate worship and in small groups. I have spent countless hours with my brothers and sisters in Christ singing the psalms, and psalm sings are truly one of my favorite pastimes. I sing them at family events, church events, and even just while spending time with friends. I find that singing with other believers, even in a casual setting, is a way to knit our hearts together as we spend time “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16 ESV).

Serving the Church

I asked for a pitch pipe for Christmas two years ago, and I have been precenting for a year now. I regularly lead the singing at my church services and at other events. I now have an even deeper knowledge of the psalms, since I need to be able to lead them at services. I am so thankful for the opportunity to help facilitate God’s worship.

Conclusion

If you grew up with the psalms, hopefully you recognize the blessing of them. If you are new to them, I hope my story encourages you to continue to learn them and to reap all of the benefits they offer. I am excited for the young children growing up in our congregations to get to have the same experience as I have had. We can say with the psalmist, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance” (Ps. 16:6 ESV).

Kara Schisler is a member of the Columbus, Ind., RPC. She is a junior in high school. When she isn’t studying or at a psalm sing, you can find her playing ultimate Frisbee with friends.