Devotional v. Study Resource: What’s the Difference?
Now that Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Devotional is found its way into many homes, it’s time to set our sights on its companion work, Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms – Study Resource. If you are in or close to Canada you can already order it here as we are waiting for it to roll off the presses later this summer (2020), the Lord willing.
But you might wonder: what exactly is it? And how is it different from the Devotional?
Well, the Devotional offers a year’s supply of one-page reflections on one thought found in a psalm. By contrast, the Study Resource, gives about a thorough explanation of the entire psalm. Both works cover all 150 Psalms, but the Devotional is intended for daily use in personal, couple, or family worship. The Study Resource, however, is intended to help Christian adults dig deeper into the meaning of a psalm. The Devotional is a single 395-page book. The Study Resource is a four-volume set of more than 1600 pages.
Just Another Commentary?
Is the Study Resource just another commentary on the Psalms? Not quite. There are three things that set it apart. The Study Resource is written by pastors who constantly kept an eye out for how you, the every-day reader of the Psalms, would benefit from their explanation. It’s a mix of explanation and application. It’s not an academic or theoretical work but a practical one meant to help any adult Christian understand the psalm and how it relates both to themselves and to Christ our Saviour.
Christ-Centred
Secondly, each author sets out to show how each Psalm connects to Christ. This is probably the single biggest difference compared to other commentaries. The pastors take care not to dream-up links to the Saviour but to base their conclusions on sound grammatical-historical exegesis. Each chapter helps you as a Christian see how the Holy Spirit was foreshadowing Jesus Christ in the writings and experiences of David, Asaph, the sons of Korah and the other poets. Showing Christ doesn’t take anything away from the personal application of the Psalms to your life but actually makes the more personal by leading you to see Jesus in his suffering, obedience, death, resurrection, ascension, and in his glorious reign as King, all of which He undertook for you and me!
Easy Reading, Easy Access
Finally, the Study Resource is unique in that it is laid out in an easy-access format. Readers like you are busy people. Single adults, parents, teachers, elders, ministers and many others who would like to know more about certain things in a Psalm often don’t have the time to read through ten pages to find answers to their questions. That’s why we laid out the explanation of each psalm under sixteen headings, so you can find what you need quickly.
If you have questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me at peter@peterholtvluwer.com or else via Facebook. Have a great day!