Review: The Songs Of Jesus by Tim Keller

Wise Words

A pastor friend/mentor told me once long ago: “pick one book in the Old and New Testament to master.” I liked the idea for its simplicity and clarity. I have and will continue to preach sermons from all over Scripture, but there’s something about an on-going, lifelong focus on two specific books. I know my study of these two books will never stop as long as I have breath. 

For me, the two books selected were easy choices: Psalms and Colossians. For whatever reason, before he even gave me that advice, those had already become books I had a particular fascination with. In the Psalms, I found the language and heartbeat of prayer. In Colossians, I found the supremacy of Christ and images of the Christian life.

So, as I’ve collected commentaries, books, and study materials, I always keep an eye out specifically for books relating to Psalms and Colossians.

Devotional Helps

In 2015, Tim Keller released a book that was: “a year of daily devotionals in the Psalms.” It was called “The Songs Of Jesus”. I knew this would be an instant-buy from me for its focus on the Psalms and because I had profited much from reading/listening to Keller through the years.

Each day contains a short passage from one of the Psalms with a brief devotional paragraph or two and finally a prayer. As the year progresses, the reader will make it through the entire book of Psalms. It is an easily digestible format (each day is no more than one page of text) full of Gospel focus and biblical wisdom for life. 

Additionally, Keller provides a few pages in the beginning about how to use the devotional. It is helpful wisdom for getting the most of this tool.

A Decade In

When 2025 ends, I will have used the devotional as part of my daily time with God for ten years straight. It has been a joy to journey through the Scriptures and the book over and over again. I’ve found new gems each time through.

I strongly believe in the concept of journaling through Scripture (I’ve written about that previously here.). One tool I use for that in my devotional time is the Evernote app. This allows me to digitally store my daily prayer journals (as well as many other notebooks/content I collect).

Using the Evernote search feature, I can look up “Psalm 86,” for example, and see that each year, as I’ve gone through the Keller book, I am in Psalm 86 at the end of July. I can go back and reread: what part of the Psalm I was focusing on years ago, I can see what was on my prayer list at that time, and I can read what my prayer that day was.

It serves to function as a sort of spiritual time capsule. I can see God’s answer to prayer and the areas I’ve grown in (and areas I still need to grow in!). In this way, I am encouraged to keep going. 

The Antidote At Hand

The enemy loves to give “spiritual amnesia.” He loves to help us so quickly  forget what God has done. A record of ten years in this book and in the Psalms is strong medicine against that.

In Psalm 103, David tells himself, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” I think this devotional can be a helpful tool in this aim.

Try it for a year…or ten… and see what God does. You might find, just like I have, that the more I seek to “master” the book of Psalms….the more it masters me. And that is my goal – to learn the Scriptures as they take hold, grow, mature, and lead me.

Thanks for reading.  Your comments and insights are always welcomed.  If you enjoyed this, please share it.  Want more content?  Check the archives, my youtube channel, or listen to me on the Cross-Cutting Culture Podcast.