Over the next several weeks, the GearTalk Biblical Theology podcast will enjoy A Month in the Psalms. Hands to the Plow’s Creative Director, Mark Yaeger, has also designed some great cover art that may serve your ministry as you teach through the Psalms. The Psalms occur in the Bible’s third division (= the Writings), so the third gear is in green in the first speech balloon; yet all Scripture’s gears (= Law, Prophets, Writings, Gospels and Acts, Epistles, and Revelation) influence or draw on the Psalms, which is why all the gears are colored in the second speech balloon.
The Images: PDF / JPG / PNG
The Images with Scriptures: PDF / JPG / PNG
Included in the “album cover” are images from the initial psalm in each of the Psalter’s “Books 1–5.”
- The flourishing tree near the water comes from Ps 1:3 at the head of Book 1, which declares of the blessed man, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
- The panting deer running from the wolves comes from Ps 42:1, 5 at the head of Book 2, where the psalmist declares, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” He then preaches to himself out of his trial, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? … Hope in God.”
- The image of the man who almost stumbled comes from Ps 73:2–3 at the head of Book 3, which reads, “My feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Later, however, when he entered God’s presence, he discerned their wicked ones’ tragic end.
- The depiction of Moses comes from Ps 90’s superscription and Ps 90:14 at the head of Book 4, where the great prophetic mediator prays from the wilderness, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
- Finally, the ships at sea come from Ps 107:23–29 at the head of Book 5, where to some who “went down to the sea in ships” Yahweh displayed his power through the waves so that they “mounted up to heaven” and “went down to the depths.” When they “cried to the LORD in their trouble … he made the storm be still,” thus anticipating the work of Jesus in Mark 4:39.
- The stars in the sky represent the universal praise that climaxes the whole Psalter (Ps 146–150). “Praise the LORD from the heavens! … Praise the LORD from the earth!” (Ps 148:1, 7).
I hope your heart is moved to worship our living and reigning God through these images and week’s of reflective conversations!
Be sure to tune in to the GearTalk Podcast the receive from A Month in the Psalms.
