New Testament Psalms

I’ve had an idea–and I’m sharing that idea, although I’m not entirely sure whether it’s a possible project. I wonder if people could glean images and metaphors from the New Testament and incorporate them into a new sort of devotional psalter, like New Testament Psalms. Replacing the Book of Psalms? No!!!!! Making a part II that could, in any way, equal the authority, strengths, and beauties of the Book of Psalms?? No!

But wouldn’t it be a cool discipline? One could study the Book of Psalms and try to incorporate original structures and linguistic affectations. (Am I using that word right?) What do you think?

I think it could be a really neat way to study the Old and New Testaments. It could be a wonderful devotional discipline, as well as an amazing set of writing exercises!

The thing is, I’m not sure it’s really possible. If a person got a big head over it, that would sour the whole deal, wouldn’t it?

On the other hand, wouldn’t that be a neat way to help children learn and review themes and lessons in Scripture? Through verse and reinforced imagery?

Would God even allow such a thing? And, wouldn’t any publisher, let alone any author, be criticized as though God’s Word can just be whipped up, no matter how much thoughtful study went into such a thing.

(A side note: I love the idea of Bible studies incorporating poetry. Maybe I’m alone here as I’ve never seen it done. Have you?)

So, if you’d like to take this shared idea and run with it, I suggest you be INCREDIBLY CAREFUL! 🙂 And, if you publish, do so anonymously, with a very deferential introduction, lest all sorts of scandalous Satan-breathed mischief follow.

Or, considering it a different way, maybe there are already New Testament psalms in Scripture that just aren’t typically considered in that light. There are hymns, prayers, and sermons, after all.

Just stuff I was thinking about, and, you know me, I share ideas so I don’t need to write them all. 😉

A blessed weekend, folks! Wishing you some reading & writing!

3 Comments

Filed under As Theological Writers, Poetry, Shared Writing Ideas

3 Responses to New Testament Psalms

  1. David J. Susan

    Thank you for a creative, Christ-centered idea. I think it resembles what Isaac Watts (1674-1748) first did for English hymnody by “expanding” Old Testament psalms in order to “urge Christ” (to use Luther’s phrase). Good examples from LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK are # 832 (Psalm 72), # 814 (Psalm 103) and # 903 (Psalm 118.24-26).

  2. Building on the above answer, wouldn’t such an undertaking be what hymns are, and in particular those hymns which paraphrase the psalms?

    Below is the list of psalm paraphrases from ELH, converted to LSB/TLH numbers where possible. TLH also had a list of psalm paraphrases like this.
    1: Blessed Is the Man (ELH 457)
    12: O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold (TLH 260)
    23: The Lord My Faithful Shepherd Is (ELH 368); The King of Love My Shepherd Is (LSB 709); The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want (LSB 710)
    24: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates (LSB 340)
    31: In Thee, Lord, Have I Put My Trust (LSB 734)
    32: Blest Is the Man, Forever Blest (TLH 392)
    37: Thy Way and All Thy Sorrows (ELH 208)
    42: As After the Water-Brooks (ELH 462)
    45: How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (LSB 395)
    46: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB 656/657)
    51: O Thou That Hear’st When Sinners Cry (TLH 325)
    67: God of Mercy, God of Grace (TLH 20); May God Bestow on Us His Grace (LSB 823/824)
    72: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (LSB 398); Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun (LSB 832)
    78: Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds (LSB 867)
    87: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (LSB 648)
    90: O God, Our Help in Ages Past (LSB 733)
    98: Joy to the World (LSB 387)
    100: All People That on Earth Do Dwell (LSB 791); Ye Lands, to the Lord (LSB 808)
    103: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LSB 790); Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (LSB 793); My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker (LSB 820)
    117: From All that Dwell Below the Skies (LSB 816)
    118: This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made (LSB 903)
    119: How Shall the Young Secure THeir Hearts (TLH 286/LW 474), O That the Lord Would Guide My Ways (LSB 707)
    124: If God Had Not Been on Our Side (TLH 267)
    128: In House and Home (TLH 624)
    130: Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee (LSB 607); Out of the Deep I Call (TLH 327)
    137: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (LSB 708)
    146: Praise the Almighty; My Soul, Adore Him (LSB 797)
    148: Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens, Adore Him (ELH 64)

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