Songs and Psalmody
The Shorey Psalter
It was the spring of 1990—about 31 years ago at this moment. I was recovering from a bout with viral meningitis that would leave me with what is now a 31-year-long headache (about which you may read in my book, 30/30 Hindsight: 30 Reflections on a 30-Year Headache). While recovering from meningitis, I was too feeble to budge very much from my big chair, but my mind wanted to worship. That was when I tried my hand at something I had done little to none of before: putting Scripture to music. Specifically, I wanted to help my church learn to sing the Psalms (since, after all, they form the original hymnbook of the church). But in order to sing the Psalms, they needed to be put to familiar music. So I began to write lyrics which followed the words of each Psalm pretty closely, setting them all to familiar tunes. My efforts led to a complete “Shorey Psalter” which our church sang through twice. No one will ever read or sing… Read More
Latest Psalms
Psalm 20 – May the Lord Answer While in Your Distress
Today’s Reading: Psalm 20 Spurgeon Comment “If David had not been vexed with wars, we might never have been favored with such psalms as this. [Sometimes] there is a need for the trials of...
Psalm 19 – The Heavens Tell of the Glory
Today’s Reading: Psalm 19 Spurgeon Comment “In his earliest days the psalmist, while keeping his father's flock, had devoted himself to the study of God's two great books—nature and...
Psalm 18:43-50: “The Triumph of the King”
Devotional Psalm 18, which has moved from confidence in God to cries for justice now ends on a high note; a celebration of victory and deliverance by the sovereign hand of God. It also...
Psalm 18:31-42 – For Who is God Except the Lord
Reading: Psalm 18:31-42 Cardiphonia:* Having expressed his simple faith in Psalm 18:1-6, God’s powerful response in Psalm 18:7-19, and then again his confidence in God’s vindicating...
Psalm 18:20-30: “The Lord Rewards the Righteous”
Reading: Psalm 18:20-30 (suggested to review 1-19) (No Spurgeon quote) Cardiphonia:* In this third section of Psalm 18, the mood changes again as the sacred hymn-writer expounds the final...
Psalm 18:7-19: “The Mountains Felt a Mighty Shock”
(no Spurgeon quote) Cardiphonia* There is a sudden change of mood in this second section of Psalm 18. The tender tone of verses 1-6 gives way to a resounding, even thunderous sound in...
