Encountering the Book of Psalms: A Literary and Theological Introduction

Though the Psalms are perhaps the most familiar portion of the Hebrew Bible, they are also among the most difficult to interpret. In this new, thoroughly updated edition of a successful textbook, a respected evangelical Old Testament scholar offers a guide to the book of Psalms that is informed by current scholarship and written at an accessible level. Designed for the undergraduate classroom, it includes photos, sidebars, and other pedagogical aids and features a new interior design.

• Contents
• To the Student
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Preface to the First Edition
• Part 1: Encountering the Literary and Hermeneutical Dimensions of the Psalms
  • 1. "Begin the Music": Introducing the Psalms
  • 2. Listening to the Symphony of Praise: Interpreting the Psalms
  • 3. The Seams of the Garment of Praise: The Structure of the Book
• Part 2: Encountering the Psalms as Worship and Historical Reflection
  • 4. The Psalms in Worship and Faith
  • 5. Encountering Theology and History in the Psalms
• Part 3: Encountering the Psalms as Literary and Theological Types
  • 6. "Praise the Lord, O My Soul; All My Inmost Being, Praise His Holy Name": Psalms of Praise
  • 7. "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?": Psalms of Lament
  • 8. "I Love the Lord, for He Heard My Voice; He Heard My Cry for Mercy": Psalms of Thanksgiving
  • 9. "The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want": Psalms of Trust
  • 10. "You Are My Son; Today I Have Become Your Father": The Royal Psalms
  • 11. "The Lord Reigns": The Kingship of Yahweh Psalms
  • 12. "My Mouth Will Speak Words of Wisdom": Wisdom Psalms
  • 13. "The Law of the Lord Is Perfect, Reviving the Soul": Psalms of Torah
  • 14. "May They Be Blotted Out of the Book of Life": Imprecatory Psalms
• Glossary
• Indexes