Invitation to the Psalms: A Reader’s Guide to Discovery and Engagement
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
The Book of Psalms is perhaps the most cherished book in the Old Testament. In this lively volume, two experienced teachers invite students to read and explore the Psalter and roam widely among its poems. The book introduces the dynamics of the biblical text, helping students become careful and attentive readers. It covers how to read Hebrew poetry, the Psalter’s basic genres, the idea of “the psalmist,” the Psalm’s theology and metaphorical world of the Psalms. Sidebars, discussion questions, and plenty of examples enhance the reading experience. This clear and concise guide is accessible to all students of the Bible.
With the Logos edition, you can research the Psalms can be done faster than ever. Invitation to the Psalms will integrate seamlessly into your digital library, allowing you to search across multiple books. In addition, all Scripture references appear in your favorite Bible translation on mouseover. Important terms and concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Find out what other scholars say about Hebrew parallelism, lament psalms, and anthropomorphism.
- Introduction to reading Hebrew poetry
- Group learning tools such as discussion questions
- Accessible and helpful analysis of the Psalms
- Why Is My Bible Repeating Itself? Learning to Understand Hebrew Poetry
- What Is a Psalm? Learning to Understand Different Psalm Genres—Part 1
- What Is a Psalm? Learning to Understand Different Psalm Genres—Part 2
- What Is a Psalmist? Learning to Understand the Voice and Life Situations of the Psalms
- Is God a Rock, a Light, or a Sheperd? Learning to Understand Metaphors, Imagery, and Symbolism in the Psalms
- “Who Is the King of Glory?” Learning to Understand Theology in the Psalms
Top Highlights
“Poetry is not merely expressive: it is expression. Poems, that is, do not merely talk about love or passion or emotion: they are the very sound of love, of passion, of emotion.” (Page 2)
“the concern of poetry ‘is not to arrive at a definition and to close the book, but to arrive at an experience.’” (Page 2)
“Analysis is a servant. A competent reader analyzes poetry so that the poetry itself can speak more profoundly.” (Page 1)
“Each genre comes with its own set of characteristic elements and assumptions. These include things such as” (Page 38)
“ sort of gratitude that God desires is not a private thank-you note, but a public testimony of praise (and” (Pages 59–60)
The authors have written one of the most accessible introductions to the Psalter available. From the character of the psalms as poetry to their function as a testimony to the God whose ways are at the center of all the psalms, the authors have taken up basic aspects of the psalms in simple, fresh, and genuinely inviting ways. Readers at all levels will enjoy and learn from this presentation of the richness of the psalms.
—Patrick D. Miller, professor of Old Testament theology emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary
Invitation to the Psalms… It is most readable, using literary insights from modern poetry to illuminate the character and message of the ancient psalms. It is up-to-date in its scholarship without overburdening the reader with technicalities. In short it is an ideal introduction to interpreting the psalms for individual or classroom use.
—Gordon Wenham, tutor in Old Testament, Trinity College Bristol
- Title: Invitation to the Psalms: A Reader’s Guide for Discovery and Engagement
- Authors: Rolf A. Jacobson, Karl Jacobson
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Publication Date: 2013
- Pages: 192
Rolf A. Jacobson is associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an ordained pastor. His teaching interests include the Psalms, the Old Testament prophets, biblical poetry, biblical theology, and biblical narrative.
Karl Jacobson is assistant professor of religion at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an ordained pastor.
