Just as the psalmist encountered, we can be overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. We run into situations that are frustrating and discouraging. But we also experience the peace and protection of our wonderful Creator whose goodness is not dependent on our situation. Depression and anxiety may threaten to steal our hope and joy, but the psalms are full of God’s unchanging love and faithfulness. As we offer our prayers and praise to God, we can also choose to believe that each day will be filled with his perfect promises. Find the hope, joy, and peace that is abundant in God as you reflect on these devotional entries, psalms, and prayers. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 NLT

The Psalms have a double identity. They are scripture and liturgy. They compose a book of the Bible and are found in our hymnals and books of worship and prayer. When we think of them in historical perspective, another identity emerges. They are the liturgical poetry of ancient Israel, texts with a history of composition and use before they became scripture. A commentary in this Interpretation series needs to keep all three identities in view. That puts some strain on the commentator's task. The attempt to interpret the Psalms in awareness of the depth in their identity explains some things about the commentary and its writing. - Preface.

Interdisciplinary and ecumenical in scope, Poetry and Prayer offers theoretical discussion on the profound connection between poetic inspiration and prayer as well as reflection on the work of individual writers and the traditions within which they stand. An international range of established and new scholars in literary studies and theology offer unique contributions to the neglected study of poetry in relation to prayer. Part I addresses the relationship of prayer and poetry. Parts II and III consider these and related ideas from the point of view of their implementation in a range of different authors and traditions, offering case studies from, for example, the Bible, Dante, Shakespeare and Herbert, as well as twentieth-century poets such as Thomas Merton, Denise Levertov, W.H. Auden and R.S. Thomas.

The Psalms have long served a vital role in the individual and corporate lives of Christians. The church fathers employed the Psalms widely—as hymns, Scripture readings, counsel on morals, forms for prayer, and in the great doctrinal controversies. In this ACCS volume readers will find rich comment and theological reflection from more than sixty-five ancient authors.

Reflecting the combined insights and strengths of three superior biblical scholars, this book is the most complete and detailed one-volume commentary available on the Psalms. Nancy deClaisse-Walford, Rolf Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner offer a succinct introduction to the Psalter, a new translation of all the psalms that takes special account of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and individual entries on each psalm unit. Throughout their commentary they drew on state-of-the-art research on the canonical shape and shaping of the Psalter and give nuanced attention to the poetic nature of the psalms.