The Organizational Structure of the Psalms

In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, I talked with Mark Futato, the Robert L. Maclellan professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches core classes on Hebrew and Old Testament books. Futato has written a number of books on Psalms that flow out not only from his study but also his love for and his living with the Psalms.

Topics in the discussion include:

• whether or not we should make the Psalms “about me”;
• allowing the organization of Psalms to inform our teaching;
• common mistakes made in teaching Psalms;
• the big three kinds of Psalms;
• how Psalms speaks to our emotions; and
• singing the Psalms about Jesus, to Jesus, with Jesus.

Recommended audio resources on the Psalms:

• Mark Futato on Psalm 1, 23
• Dick Lucas sermons on Psalms
• Sinclair Ferguson sermons on Psalms
• Edmund Clowney sermons and lectures on preaching Christ from the Psalms

Recommended print resources on the Psalms:

• Knowing the Bible: Psalms: A 12-Week Study by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
• Journey to Joy: The Psalms of Ascent by Josh Moody (Psalms 120–134)
• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is King, Volume 1, Psalms 1 to 41 by James Johnston
• Transformed by Praise: The Purpose and Message of the Psalms by Mark Futato
• Joy Comes in the Morning: Psalms for All Seasons by Mark Futato
• Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook by Mark Futato
• Psalms: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary by Mark Futato, George Schwab, and Philip Comfort
• How to Read the Psalms by Tremper Longman III
• Psalms 1-72: An Introduction and Commentary by Derek Kidner
• Psalms 73-150 by Derek Kidner