Why We Should Be Singing the Psalter

Join Pastor. Chris Gordon and Pastor Peter Holtvlüwer in a discussion about Peter’s new Book series “Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms” which showshow each psalm reveals the Saviour Jesus Christ demonstrating the importance of the Psalter in our worship. They explore the historical shift from the use of the almost exclusive use of the Psalter for the first 1800 years of the church to what we have today in modern hymns and contemporary worship music. They make a compelling case for the primacy of the Psalms in Christian worship, arguing that they provide a full range of human emotions, are Christ-centered, and ensure that the congregation is singing the inspired Word of God. The pastors also address difficult passages in the Psalms, the role of instrumentation, and the historical reasons behind the church's move away from them.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Episode
00:04:20 - Challenges of Modern Church Music
00:05:00 - The Isaac Watts Era and Moving Away from Psalms
00:08:30 - Singing the Psalter Prevents Error
00:09:45 - God Commands That We Sing the Psalms
00:10:45 - Hymns, Songs, and Psalms in Scripture
00:13:00 - The Psalms Cover a Full Range of Emotions
00:14:00 - The Psalms Are About Christ
00:16:00 - The New Testament Alludes to the Psalms
00:18:50 - The Tunes We Use for the Psalter Matter
00:21:30 - Looking at the Psalms with "New Testament Eyes"
00:22:45 - The Disciples Prayed Psalm 2
00:27:00 - Psalm 51 as a Psalm of Confession
00:28:20 - The Importance of Explaining the Psalms
00:29:55 - The Difficult Passage in Psalm 137
00:32:10 - Understanding God's Holiness and Justice
00:43:00 - The Psalms and the Global Church
00:45:10 - What Are the "New Songs" in Revelation?
00:45:55 - The Role of Musical Instruments
00:48:10 - The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Psalms
00:51:35 - Historical Perspective on the Use of the Psalms
00:54:00 - The Wesley's and Moving Away from Psalms
00:55:00 - Developing an Appreciation for the Psalter
00:58:00 - What it Means for Jesus to Sing the Psalms

Peter Holtvlüwer
Peter has been a Reformed pastor in Canada for more than 25 years. In addition to his regular duties, he enjoys editing and writing for his church community. In collaboration with other pastors, he has also delved deeply into the Psalms and since published three works under one main title, Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms.

The first work was the Devotional (2018) containing 365 meditations covering all the Psalms, with a focus on showing our Saviour Jesus Christ in each psalm. The second was the Study Resource (2020), a four-volume pastoral commentary on all the Psalms in which each psalm is thoroughly explained in its context and with a special concentration on how it reveals Christ. Both works provide rich insights in an easy-to-read and user-friendly style.

The most recent work is a practical and hands-on Bible Study Workbook using the theme Christ our Teacher (2025).

Books:
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Devotional (2018)
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Study Resource (4 Volumes - 2020)
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Bible Study Workbook (Christ our Teacher, 2025)

Available for purchase:
In the US: www.reformedfellowship.net​
In Canada: www.providencebookspress.com​

website:
​www.peterholtvluwer.com

Peter has been a Reformed pastor in Canada for more than 25 years. In addition to his regular duties, he enjoys editing and writing for his church community. In collaboration with other pastors, he has also delved deeply into the Psalms and since published three works under one main title, Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms.

The first work was the Devotional (2018) containing 365 meditations covering all the Psalms, with a focus on showing our Saviour Jesus Christ in each psalm. The second was the  Study Resource (2020), a four-volume pastoral commentary on all the Psalms in which each psalm is thoroughly explained in its context and with a special concentration on how it reveals Christ. Both works provide rich insights in an easy-to-read and user-friendly style.

The most recent work is a practical and hands-on Bible Study Workbook using the theme Christ our Teacher (2025).

Books:
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Devotional (2018)
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Study Resource (4 Volumes - 2020)
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Bible Study Workbook (Christ our Teacher, 2025)

Available for purchase:
In the US: www.reformedfellowship.net
In Canada: www.providencebookspress.com

website: 
www.peterholtvluwer.com