Book of Psalms Book II

There is no "should" or "ought" about it—if we're Christian parents, the Bible must be the center of our children's education. Kevin Swanson (an Orthodox Presbyterian pastor based in Colorado) has made it his mission to help parents train their kids to be faithful and diligent readers of God's Word. The Book of Psalms: The Heart of the Word represents his ongoing effort and provides an excellent introduction to family worship.

Currently four volumes lead readers through Psalms 1-119; a fifth volume will complete the study. Each section is centered on a single Psalm, which appears at the beginning in its entirety in the King James Version. The reading aloud of the Psalm is followed by several sections: How do we feel in the recitation of this Psalm?, What does this Psalm say?, How do we apply this Psalm?, and How does this Psalm teach us to worship God?

After each of these sections has been read to the family, there are review questions covering both the Psalm itself and Swanson's commentary, and family discussion questions which require self-examination and reflection. The format is easy—parents read the Psalm and the commentary and each capable member of the family takes turn answering questions; the content often is not, as it will bring sin and shortcomings to light.

The section How do we feel in the recitation of this Psalm? isn't some touchy-feely reader response approach to understanding God's Word. Swanson simply illuminates the way the Psalm is supposed to make us feel, and what our emotional reaction should be, not to the text, but to Christ Himself. This is very much a Christ-centered commentary, and though the Psalms are found in the Old Testament, readers' attention is frequently turned toward Him.

Family worship is a sadly neglected tradition, especially in the Western Church. Swanson aims to bring it back, and The Book of Psalms is just one of his offerings to help families recover devotional home worship. More than Sunday sermons are needed if we're to raise children who walk by God's Law, and this two-volume guide presents an easy-to-follow systemetized approach to help you build a Gospel-centered family.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.