How to Read and Understand the Psalms
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
An Introduction to the Psalms from Biblical Scholars Bruce K. Waltke and Fred G. Zaspel
Written over the course of 1,000 years, the book of Psalms is a collection of religious poetry voicing a wide variety of human emotions expressed in different genres—imprecatory psalms, psalms of praise, and more. It has become one of the most popular books of the Bible, but most readers have only a surface level understanding of the Psalms and how it fits into the larger historical and scriptural context.
In How to Read and Understand the Psalms, Bruke K. Waltke and Fred G. Zaspel give readers tools to learn how to properly interpret and internalize the Psalms. Developed primarily from decades of lectures by Waltke, they explain the various types of psalms, Hebrew poetry, rhetorical techniques, and more. Armed with these tools, believers will discover how the 150 psalms can further fuel their knowledge and love of God.
Developed Primarily from Lectures by Bruce K. Waltke: A renowned Old Testament scholar, Waltke taught on the Psalms for decades at Dallas Seminary, Regent College, Westminster Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Knox Theological Seminary
Ideal for Pastors, Teachers, and Students: Readers will be equipped to read, teach, and preach the Psalms with greater confidence
In-Depth: Waltke and Zaspel examine specific psalms verse-by-verse and explain the various ways the psalmists themselves convey their message and how their psalms should be read in light of the biblical canon
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Gives readers tools to learn how to properly interpret and internalize the Psalms
- Explains the various ways the psalmists themselves convey their message
- Examines specific psalms verse-by-verse
- Preface
- Introduction
- Hermeneutics: Interpreting the Psalms as Believers
- The Historical Setting
- The Royal Orientation of the Psalms
- The Liturgical Setting
- Hebrew Poetry
- Form Criticism and Psalm Forms
- Praise Psalms
- Petition-Lament Psalms
- Individual Songs of Grateful Praise
- Songs of Trust
- Messianic Psalms
- Didactic Psalms
- Rhetorical Devices and Structures
- The Final Arrangement of the Psalter
- Appendix 1: Superscripts, Postscripts, or Both
- Appendix 2: A Canonical Process Approach to the Psalms
- Appendix 3: Psalm Forms Summary
As has often been said, the Psalms reflect every aspect of the human soul. Without them, our worship would be impoverished and less honest, lacking the elements of righteous anger, confusion, and dejection that so often permeate the Psalms. Bruce Waltke and Fred Zaspel have provided us with a gem of a book that opens up fresh insights into the structure, meaning, and purpose of the Psalms. This book crystallizes the fruit of long careers of devoted scholarship with clarity, insight, and skill. Hopefully this book will drive the church back to the Psalms to gain much-needed courage and nourishment. What a wonderful gift to the church.
—Derek W. H. Thomas, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
This work by Waltke and Zaspel is a milestone achievement, encapsulating a lifetime of study in an accessible form that will serve students, pastors, and anyone else who wants to deepen and enrich their understanding of the book of Psalms.
—Iain M. Duguid, Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary
A few years ago, I visited the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon. Hidden beneath a nondescript hillside of rock and scrub lies a vast underground cavern, a gallery of dizzying vistas, towering earth sculptures, and precarious chasms—all of it stunningly beautiful. This book feels like that. Waltke and Zaspel take us into and under the Psalter and show a huge, dazzling world teeming there. I’m stumped to know what else could have gone into this monumental book. It is scholarly, highly readable, instantly useful, spilling with insight, and massively comprehensive. The material on David alone is worth the price of the book. Every serious reader, teacher, and preacher of the Psalms needs a copy.
—Mark Buchanan, author, David: Rise and David: Reign
- Title: How to Read and Understand the Psalms
- Authors: Bruce K. Waltke, Fred G. Zaspel
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Pages: 588
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subject: Bible. O.T. Psalms › Criticism, interpretation, etc
- ISBNs: 9781433584336, 9781433584367, 9781433584343, 1433584336, 1433584360, 1433584344
- Resource ID: LLS:HWRDNDRSTNPSLMS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-06T15:21:56Z
