An accidental publication Sarah Harding chats to ministers Sam Finlay and Niall Lockhart about how the first lockdown unexpectedly led to them co-authoring a devotional book.
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n March 2020, during the first lockdown, ministers Sam Finlay (SF) and Niall Lockhart (NL) began to write daily comments on the book of Psalms to strengthen and encourage members of their congregations in Redrock and Druminnis, and Ballyhenry Presbyterian churches. Initially published separately, on Facebook, Sam and Niall have merged these daily devotionals to provide a pathway through each of the 150 psalms. Volume 1 of Daily Psalms ( January-June) was produced in January 2021, with a second volume ( JulyDecember) due out later this year. How did writing the book come about? SF: Good question! First up, we’d both happily confess that Daily Psalms in book form was a somewhat accidental publication. Last spring, the sudden reality of Covid-19 on our doorstep and the potential of many taking ill and even dying caught me like a rabbit in the headlights. In those early weeks flustering over technology I knew I wanted to bring God’s Word into the lives of our Redrock and Druminnis families in a way that was relevant and spiritually encouraging.
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Herald Spring 2021
My initial notion was a weekly online post, but after a phone call with Niall (we’ve been friends since studying together at Union College), I was drawn to the idea of beginning a daily journey through the book of Psalms. With so many of our church families using Facebook this was an obvious place to ‘publish’. As time went on we also began to distribute print copies to folks who weren’t online. Why did you feel drawn to the psalms at this time? NL: The idea of reading through the psalms on a daily basis is not a new idea. For many Christians, in many places at many times, this has been part of the daily rhythm of what it means to follow Jesus. The psalms describe a world where
The psalms speak to people about God, but they also teach us a language to speak to God.
you really don’t know what you’re getting from day to day. However, at the same time they speak of a God who is faithful, trustworthy, and who wants to be known, one day at a time. What reaction has the book received in your congregations? SF: As pastors, we wrote these devotions for our congregations. When they were first published on social media it was, in part, people’s heartfelt appreciation and engagement with what we were posting that was a massive daily spur on to ‘go again’ with each new day and each fresh psalm. Since ‘publishing’ the daily readings in a dated book format it’s been really encouraging to hear folks share their stories of how reading and praying the psalms is becoming part of their daily Christian walk. How do you intend people to use this resource and what do you hope they’ll get out of it? NL: The psalms speak to people about God, but they also teach us a language to speak to God. They draw us into a slowly unfolding relationship with God amidst
