By Rev. Brian Hamer, Pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Riverview, Florida

A few months ago, I attended a choral concert given by the St. Thomas Choir of Men & Boys from New York City. As a Lutheran pastor, I doubt my invitation to this Episcopal showcase extended beyond the sidewalk. But anyone who has heard St. Thomas’ recordings of the Anglican Psalm settings understands the attraction. I was very disappointed to discover they had no Psalms prepared for the evening repertoire.

Why this incessant Lutheran desire to hear the Psalms? A quick glance at the Old Testament precedent reveals the importance of Psalms to teach the people. We know King Solomon wrote 1,005 Psalms, most of which have been lost (I Kings 4:32), indicating the writing of Psalms was flourishing at the time. We also know that Solomon was wiser than the chief musicians Ethan and Heman (v. 31). So were it not for Solomon, two of the wisest men in Israel would have been musicians! They were teachers of the highest possible order, reaching maturity at age thirty, not age twenty like the unspecialized Levite (I Chron. 23:3, 5, 24).

Since the priests and musicians had two-week tours of duty at the Jerusalem temple (I Chron. 24 & 25) we ask, "What were these highly- qualified pastoral musicians doing the rest of the year?" Many scholars suspect that Levitical musicians, scattered throughout the land (I Chron. 6), catechized the Israelites through the singing of Psalms. (See Leonard Payton in The Coming Evangelical Crisis, p. 192f.)

The New Testament no longer has the Levitical ceremonial law, yet the larger teaching role of Psalms continues for the pastors. How important were the Psalms to the first pastors? Since the Psalms are the prayerbook of Christ Himself, many candidates were required to know the entire Psalter by heart before ordination.

Today, the future seminary student can look forward to many hours of singing "Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Col. 3:16) in a vibrant worship life on campus. You will learn the sung confession of the faith as you speak of crucifixion and resurrection, baptism and absolution, the Lord’s Supper and eternal life.

In doing so, you will discover at least two things. First, if it weren’t for Dr. Wenthe, two of the wisest men on our campus would be musicians. But more importantly, you will understand Luther’s words: "If you would see the holy Christian Church painted in living color and shape, comprehended in one little picture, then take up the Psalter."

Future students, take up your Psalter! Take up the Psalms now in your liturgical life at home. Come to the seminary and learn the Psalms in chapel. And, someday, take up the hymnal to teach your people to pray with the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord.

From Volume 2, Issue 4, July/August 1998