This book points ot us--men and women of today--the ways to use and enjoy the wisdom of consolation of the Psalms, so that we too may understand their meaning for today--and achieve by our faithfulness a triumphant serenity.

This book was written for the general reader, to provide a clearer understanding and a deeper appreciation of the religious and literary value of the Psalms. The Hebrew Psalms have a power of survival which is unparalleled in the spiritual life of the Western world. Composed in the Near East twenty-five to thirty centuries ago, they are still read or sung by Jews as well as Christians of all denominations. What is the secret of their vitality? How do the Psalms continue to offer a wisdom for living and a consolation for dying? Dr. Terrien here gives the twofold reason for their enduring power. The psalmists belonged to a nation born to be the servant of the Lord. They placed God at the center of their existence and held that life on earth is not worth living unless it is related properly to the creator of the universe, the giver of life, the master of nature, and the judge and savior of humanity in history. What they said is particularly relevant today, for in times of cultural decay and military disasters they found that human existence, in spite of its trials and madness, remains a truly worthwhile experience. They faced the agony of national disintegration and of personal death, and yet they were singing. The psalmists praised God and prayed to Him, not only as people of faith but also as poets. They formulated their faith with a sublime diction that remains powerful in spite of the obscurities of language and the awkwardness of translation. Dr. Terrien shows how these poets captured in words certain dimensions of truth and beauty which defy ordinary expression, and why through the marriage of thought and poetic emotion they were able to carry their impact to us across the barriers of time and tongue. This book illustrates how best to reap the wisdom and consolation of the Psalms so that we too may understand their meaning for today.

In this monumental work, his most ambitious undertaking, the late Samuel Terrien brings together a lifetime of scholarship on Psalms, long the wellspring of Jewish spirituality as well as the main hymnal of the Christian church. The book's insightful and clearly written introduction treats such subjects as the longevity and ecumenicity of the psalms, their Near Eastern background, the Hebrew text and ancient versions, their music, their strophic structure, their literary genre, their theology, and their relation to the New Testament. In the commentary itself Terrien freshly elucidates the theological significance of these collected poems by putting readers in touch with the formal versatility and religious passion of the psalmists themselves. While Terrien always engages in scientific exegesis before drawing theological conclusions, he is careful to allow full expression to the theological -- and, especially, the doxological -- voice of these unmatched spiritual songs. The result is a commentary that provides a link between the archaic language of Psalms and the intellectual demands of modern thinking and spirituality. Throughout his exposition Terrien shows great respect for the scribal testimony of the Jewish tradition, especially the consonants of the Masoretic text. He likewise displays great care in finding the most accurate meaning for Hebrew words of obscure origin. This meticulous work renders a translation of Psalms more reliable than those of Terrien's predecessors. He also draws on many fruitful gains of structural analysis in discerning the strophic divisions within the Hebrew text. Often he finds unity of composition where earlier critics denied it. And for readersinterested in specific aspects of translation and interpretation, Terrien has appended bibliographical lists of modern works on each psalm.

The latest edition of a timely commentary series from Bible teacher Sue Edwards. Sue Edwardss Bible studies provide women with resources for both enriching personal Bible study and meaningful group discussion. Each study offers three levels of questions so readers can personalize the content to their level. In this newest six week study, women of all ages will learn how these psalms teach relevant lessons about authentic worship. A leader's guide is included in this multi-faceted study of the psalms.

The psalms--the prayers of the chosen people, the prayers of the people of God--have a spontaneity and timeless pertinence which is unique. They are an integral part of Christian liturgies; yet they pose difficulties for many who sense that they have sprung from a cultural milieu which is totally alien to our own. This problem can only be solved by a careful study of their origins, their literary structures, their content, and their intent. A vast literature has grown up around the psalter. But modern biblical discoveries, research, and scholarship have opened the way to a greater understanding and finer appreciation of the inspired prayers. The author, one of the leading exegetes of our time, has produced a monumental and comprehensive work which reflects his vast research and erudite judgment. The scholar and the biblical student will find this thorough treatment invaluable. And educated men of all religions, who share a common invaluable scriptural tradition, should also find it essentially helpful and enlightening. This many-faceted work clearly illustrates that biblical scholarship knows no denominational boundaries. The psalter is a bridge of prayer in this ecumenical age, and readers will find the author's insights and analyses most helpful in making the psalms more vital in their lives and a more unifying bond in man's search for God in our time.

This is the first volume of a practical and readable introduction to the Psalms which effectively unfolds the text and meaning as songs for the people of God. The expositions represent Michael Wilcock's attempts over many years to unfold God's Word to real people confronting the raw questions of life in the church and in the world. He sees the Psalter as a collection, an anthology, a hymnal, a book of songs. It is full of pictures that show us a variety of places in a land of spiritual experience. In his view it is important for Christians today to appropriate the range of human emotion that is embodied in the Psalms. We also need their imaginative vitality. The book will be helpful in using the Psalms in church services, and includes an exposition of every Psalm, long or short, familiar or neglected. The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today's world.