Catechism Preaching and Psalm Singing
The Reformed Church prominently features in its worship two things that seem odd to American Christians. First, we have a catechetical worship service where teaching and preaching our catechism and doctrinal standards is ordinary. Second, we sing primarily Psalms in our services. This is not a new thing, but as old as the reformation itself, if not older.
As a pastor, this creates an interesting challenge. It might be easy to name a hymn for a given doctrine or Lord’s day, but what about Psalms? Enter this index from Het Boek der Psalmen nevens de Gezangen bij de Hervormde Kerk van Nederland (Amsterdam, 1773). What follows is a keyed index to help a minister, parents, and others choose fitting Psalms to sing with Catechism lessons, when teaching on Doctrinal topics, or when studying through the Apostles’ Creed, Ten Commandments, or Lord’s Prayer.
(Note that in the following historical list, decimals such as “73.2” or “119.4” don’t refer to verse numbers. They refer, instead, to different stanzas or parts of the psalms. The precise reference in modern psalm settings is difficult to determine, but the numbers can still be a rough guide to the section of the psalm that addresses the relevant topic. In general “.2” refers to the second half of the psalm, and decimals for Psalm 119 refer to stanzas in that long acrostic poem.)
Lord’s Day 1 “What is Your Only Comfort?”— Psalm 73.2
Part 1: Misery
Lord’s Day 2 “Our Knowledge of Misery out of the Law”—Psalm 19.2
Lord’s Day 3-4 “The Source of Our Misery”— Psalms 51; 5; 49
Part 2: Deliverance
Lord’s Day 5-6 ”The Mediator”— Psalms 25; 36; 130
Lord’s Day 7 “What is True Faith?”— Psalm 2.2
Beginning of the Apostles’ Creed
Lord’s Day 8 “Doctrine of God”— Psalms 139; 145
“Trinity”— Psalms 33
Lord’s Day 9 “The Creation of All things”— Psalms 115.2; 136
Lord’s Day 10 “The Providence of God”— Psalms 33; 104; 147
Lord’s Day 11 “The Name Jesus”— The Hymn of Mary
Lord’s Day 12 “The Name Christ”— Psalms 2; 89
“The Name Christian”— Psalms 45.2; 72.2
Lord’s Day 13 “God’s Only-begotten Son”— Psalms 2.2; 45.2; 72.2
Lord’s Day 14 “The Savior’s Conception and Birth”—The Hymn of Mary
Lord’s Day 15 “The Savior’s Suffering”— Psalm 42
Lord’s Day 16 “The Savior’s Death, Burial and Descent to Hell”— Psalm 22
Lord’s Day 17 “The Savior’s Resurrection”— Psalms 16; 118.3
Lord’s Day 18 “The Savior’s Ascension”— Psalms 47; 68.3
Lord’s Day 19 “The Savior’s Sitting at God’s Right Hand”— Psalm 110
“The Savior’s return in judgment”— Psalm 96.2
Lord’s Day 20 “The Holy Spirit”— Psalm 119.3
Lord’s Day 21 “The Church”— Psalm 48
“The Communion of Saints”— Psalm 133
“The Forgiveness of Sin”— Psalm 32
Lord’s Day 22 “The Resurrection of the Body”— Psalm 49.2
“The Life Eternal”— Psalm 73.2
End of the Apostles’ Creed
Lord’s Day 23 “Justification”— Psalms 32; 103; 130
Lord’s Day 24 “The Insufficiency of our good works before God”— Psalms 19.2; 143
Lord’s Day “The Sacraments”— Psalm 111
Lord’s Day 26 “Baptism”— Psalm 51
Lord’s Day 27 “Infant Baptism”— Psalms 71.2; 87
Lord’s Day 28 “Lord’s Supper”— Psalm 23
Lord’s Day 29 “The Rejection of Transubstantiation”— Psalm 119.4
Lord’s Day 30 “The Popish Mass”— Psalm 115
“The Requirements of Lord’s Supper participants”— Psalms 25.2; 26.2
Lord’s Day 31 “The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven”— Psalms 15; 24; 65
Part III: Gratitude
Lord’s Day 32 “The Necessity of Good Works”— Psalm 119
Lord’s Day 33 “Conversion or Repentance”— Psalms 119.9; 119.22
Beginning of the Ten Commandments
Lord’s Day 34 “God’s Law”— Psalm 1
“The First Commandment”— Psalm 81.1
Lord’s Day 35 “The Second Commandment”— Psalm 115
Lord’s Day 36 “The Third Commandment”— Psalm 145.2
Lord’s Day 37 “Oaths”— Psalm 24
Lord’s Day 38 “The Fourth Commandment”— Psalms 63; 84; 92
Lord’s Day 39 “The Fifth Commandment”— Psalms 34.1; 78
Lord’s Day 40 “The Sixth Commandment”— Psalm 5
Lord’s Day 41 “The Seventh Commandment”— Psalms 50.2; 51.2; 119.5
Lord’s Day 42 “The Eighth Commandment”— Psalm 62.2
Lord’s Day 43 “The Ninth Commandment”— Psalm 120
Lord’s Day 44 “The Tenth Commandment”— Psalm 131
“The Necessity of Preaching the Law”— Psalm 19.2
Beginning of the Lord’s Prayer
Lord’s Day 45 “The Necessity of prayer”— Psalms 65; 145.2
Lord’s Day 46 ”The Address of Our Prayer”— Psalm 103.2
Lord’s Day 47 “The First Petition”— Psalm 89
Lord’s Day 48 “The Second Petition”— Psalm 72
Lord’s Day 49 “The Third Petition”— Psalm 119
Lord’s Day 50 “The Fourth Petition”— Psalm 145.2
Lord’s Day 51 “The Fifth Petition”— Psalm 51
Lord’s Day 52 “The Sixth Petition”— Psalm 141.1
“The Close of Prayer”— Psalm 5.1