Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023)
Article: The Psalms As A Source For Ministerial Vitality
Author: Ryan Swale

RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023) p. 90

The Psalms As A Source For Ministerial Vitality

Ryan Swale

D.Min. Student
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“Vitality” has been defined as “the peculiarity distinguishing the living from the nonliving,”1 or the “capacity for survival or for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence.”2 Applied to the Christian ministry, this means that a “vital ministry” is one that is not dead but very much alive and continuing the course with purpose. The basic contention of this paper is that one of the means by which such a vital ministry might be maintained is by a deep, experiential knowledge of the Book of Psalms. In a day and age when ministers are getting burnt out and leaving the pulpit at alarming rates, the Psalms provide an essential resource in maintaining real spiritual vitality.

Consider Psalm 1. What is that picture of the blessed man—who is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season, his leaf not withering but all that he does prospering (Ps. 1:3)—but a picture of spiritual vitality?3 He is alive, and his life, nourished by deep roots, gives him purpose, so that the work which he does prospers. And yet the key to such vitality is delighting in and meditating on the torah (as Psalm 1:2 makes clear),4 which, given this psalm’s place as the introduction to the psalter, also alludes to the Book of Psalms itself.5

The Psalms, divided into five books, are given a “torah-shape,” and the introductory function of Psalm 1 suggests that it is commending to the reader this very collection of songs as the “torah” to be meditated on. “Why a fivefold division?” asks one Psalms scholar. “An ancient Jewish tradition points us in the right direction, connecting the Five Books of the Psalms with the Five Books of Moses: ‘As Moses gave five books of laws to Israel, so David gave five books of Psalms to Israel.’ … The Five Books of the Psalms are fundamentally תּוֹרָה (“instruction”) to be meditated on.”6 And

RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023) p. 91

what is the result of such activity? The one who does this becomes that spiritually vital “tree” of You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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