Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically

The Psalms are the most-read part of the Old Testament, but their importance for ethics has often been overlooked. However, the Psalms offer some of the most potent ethical instruction in the Bible. In this book renowned Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham examines the source of the Psalms' power, reflects on their main ethical themes, and shows how they function as prayers that change us. Wenham makes an important contribution to biblical scholarship and breaks new ground in discussions of Old Testament ethics, yet he writes accessibly, making this book invaluable for students in Old Testament/ethics courses, scholars, and pastors.

• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. Jewish and Christian Approaches to the Psalms
• 2. Critical Approaches to the Psalms
• 3. The Psalter as an Anthology to Be Memorized
• 4. The Unique Claims of Prayed Ethics
• 5. The Concept of the Law in the Psalms
• 6. Laws in the Psalter
• 7. Narrative Law in the Psalter
• 8. Virtues and Vices in the Psalter
• 9. Appeals for Divine Intervention
• 10. The Ethic of the Psalms and the New Testament
• Conclusion
• Indexes