Psalms: A Guide to Studying the Psalter, 2nd ed.

by W. H. Bellinger

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2012

Overview

A leading authority on the Psalms and a seasoned teacher presents a new edition of an already successful book. W. H. Bellinger takes account of the latest developments in Psalms studies in this accessible and concise primer. Not only will students of the Psalms appreciate these studies but church leaders teaching from the Psalms will also gain new insight from this classic text.

Key Features

• Provides a helpful introduction to key theological and interpretive issues
• Highlights significant themes found in Psalms
• Interacts with recent work on the interpretive significance of Psalms

Contents

• Getting Started
• Lessons from the Past
• Reading the Psalms
• Laments: Out of the Depths
• Psalms of Praise: Enthroned on the Praises of Israel
• Royal Psalms: A Covenant with My Chosen One, David My Servant
• Wisdom Psalms: I Will Instruct You
• The Psalms and Faith

Praise for the Print Edition

The study of the Old Testament Psalter has undergone great changes during the twentieth century in an effort to recover a fuller awareness of its original setting and purpose. Bellinger’s book admirably fulfills the task of exploring the many insights of modern scholarship on the Psalms in order to clarify the faith to which they bear witness. It does this by showing the real-life situations that occasioned the formulation of prayers of complaint and praise, opening up a warm sense of the humanity and faith that they nurtured. Readers will find a great richness of scholarship here set out in vigorous and exciting language to make plain that the Psalter retains a powerful challenge for the present day. These psalms explore the whole range of human experience and provide a vehicle by which faith can become articulate and sharply focused, even when faced with pain and doubt. The sheer honesty of these prayers challenges contemporary complacency.

—Ronald E. Clements, professor of Old Testament studies, King’s College, University of London

Bellinger has created an excellent primer for the Psalms. I like his use of examples in each section and his references in each chapter to what has gone before.

—Victor Matthews, professor of religious studies, Southwest Missouri State University

Product Details

• Title: Psalms: A Guide to Studying the Psalter, Second Edition
• Author: W. H. Bellinger Jr.
• Edition: 2nd
• Publisher: Baker
• Publication Date: 2012
• Pages: 192
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: Psalms

About W. H. Bellinger

W. H. Bellinger Jr. is W. Marshall and Lulie Craig Chairholder in Bible, chair of the Department of Religion, and professor of religion at Baylor University, and is an ordained Baptist minister. His other publications include Psalms: Reading and Studying the Book of Praises and The Testimony of Poets and Sages.