Every year I make it a habit to read several times through the book of Psalms. I also read through select chapters of Psalms when I’m depressed or discouraged. Reading the Psalms regularly has been a practice of mine for some time. In seminary, I took a nine-week class on the book of Psalms and learned so much about this incredible book. When I saw The Flow Of The Psalms: Discovering Their Structure And Theology by O. Palmer Robertson, I was excited to read and explore the Psalms from a redemptive-historical perspective.
The book is broken down into ten chapters. In chapter two, the author explores the basic structural elements in the Psalms. Chapter three looks at the redemptive-historical framework for the Psalms. Chapters four through nine looks at the book of Psalms itself. The book concludes with some important observations about the book of Psalms. My favorite chapter was chapter three.
Over the years, I’ve read a lot on biblical theology. I spent most of my time in seminary focusing on biblical theology for the simple fact that I’ve always loved to read and study the Bible. In all my study though I haven’t read very many books that I remember that focus solely on the redemptive-historical connections in the book of Psalms. Dr. Robertson notes, “A doctrine of God, man, sin, salvation, and eschatology could be derived from the teaching of the various psalms” (23). Chapter four explores God’s Covenant initiating redemption, God’s covenant with Noah, God’s Covenant with Abraham and the Patriarchs, God’s Covenant with Moses, God’s Covenant with David, and more.
Reading this book was a true joy. While not for the average lay person, The Flow Of The Psalms is a serious exploration into the book of Psalms. This book would be good for serious Bible study on the book of Psalms, for pastors and teachers planning a sermon series on the book of Psalms, and especially for seminary students studying the Old Testament. This book will help readers to understand the redemptive-historical progression that develops across the five books of Psalms. With helpful charts, the author demonstrates why the Psalms are placed where they are, how Psalms fits within the redemptive story of the rest of the Bible, and the grouping of Psalms by topics.
Whether you’ve studied the Psalms before or not, the author will help you better understand the whole Psalter with the result that you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of each individual poem. I highly recommend this rich, deep, and practically helpful look at the book of Psalms.
I received this book for free from P&R and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
