Description
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIllustrations xiii
Preface xix
Abbreviations xxv
Book Three: Psalms 73–89 Remembering, Human and Divine 1
Psalms 73–83: The Asaphite Collection: ‘How Long, O Lord?’ 3
Psalms 73–77: ‘Has God Forgotten to be Gracious?’ 4
Psalm 73: A Didactic Psalm about the Impious 5
Psalm 74: A Communal Lament about Ongoing Exile 9
Psalm 75: God’s Abode is in Zion (i) 13
Psalm 76: God’s Abode is in Zion (ii) 16
Psalm 77: An Individual Lament about Ongoing Exile 18
Psalms 78–83: ‘Will You be Angry Forever?’ 23
Psalm 78: A Didactic Psalm about God’s Judgement on His People 24
Psalm 79: A Communal Lament about Ongoing Exile (i) 30
Psalm 80: A Communal Lament about Ongoing Exile (ii) 33
Psalm 81: God’s Abode is in Zion (i) 38
Psalm 82: God’s Abode is in Zion (ii) 42
Psalm 83: An Individual Lament about Ongoing Exile 47
Psalms 84–89: The Korahite Collection: ‘Will God Remember Zion?’ 50
Psalms 84–88: ‘Restore us Again, O Lord!’ 50
Psalm 84: Longing for the Temple 51
Psalm 85: Praying for National Deliverance 56
Psalm 86: In Memory of David 59
Psalm 87: God is King in Zion 62
Psalm 88: A Psalm of Complaint and Instruction 67
Psalm 89: Remembering the Covenant with David 72
Book Four: Psalms 90–106
Human Transience and the Everlasting God 79
Psalms 90–92: God as Refuge 82
Psalm 90: Lamenting Human Transience 82
Psalm 91: God’s Promise of Protection 87
Psalm 92: A Thanksgiving Song for the Sabbath 94
Psalms 93–94, 95–100: God as King 99
Psalm 93: God’s Kingship is for Ever 99
Psalm 94: God Will Come to Judge the Nations of the Earth 103
Psalm 95: God’s People are Called upon to Acknowledge God as King 106
Psalm 96: ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’ (i) 112
Psalm 97: God Reigns in Zion (i) 117
Psalm 98: ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’ (ii) 119
Psalm 99: God Reigns in Zion (ii) 123
Psalm 100: The Whole Earth is Called upon to Acknowledge God as King 126
Psalms 101–103: God as Defender 131
Psalm 101: David: The Model Servant 131
Psalm 102: A Penitential Prayer of a Suffering Servant 133
Psalm 103: God’s Compassion is Everlasting 138
Psalms 104–106: God as Creator and Redeemer 142
Psalm 104: A Hymn to God as Creator 142
Psalm 105: A Thanksgiving Song: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (i) 150
Psalm 106: A Lament: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (ii) 154
Book Five: Psalms 107–151
Envisaging Restoration: The Divine Plan in History159 Psalm 107: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (iii) 164
Psalms 108–110: A Trilogy of Psalms Concerning David 172
Psalm 108: A Composite Psalm of Remembrance 172
Psalm 109: Living with Abuse 177
Psalm 110: A Psalm about Abraham, David, the Messiah and Christ 182
Psalms 111–112: Two Acrostic Psalms 193
Psalm 111: An Acrostic Psalm Concerning the Righteousness of God 193
Psalm 112: An Acrostic Psalm Concerning Human Righteousness 197
Psalms 113–118: A Liturgical Collection (i) 202
Psalm 113: God Elevates the Poor 203
Psalm 114: A Passover Psalm 209
Psalm 115: A Liturgy: The Lifelessness of Idols and the Life-Giving God 217
Psalm 116: The Fate of the Dead and the Cup of Salvation 222
Psalm 117: Brief Praise with Abundant Implications 227
Psalm 118: A Psalm with Many Voices 231
Psalm 119: Reflections on the Formation of Character 241
Psalms 120–134: A Liturgical Collection (ii) 253
Psalms 120–124: Arrival at Zion 258
Psalm 120: A Song from the Diaspora 258
Psalm 121: A Song of Journeying 262
Psalm 122: A Song of Arrival 269
Psalm 123: A Song Praying for Mercy 276
Psalm 124: A Song about National Deliverance 281
Psalms 125–129: Blessings from Zion 286
Psalm 125: A Song about Restoration (i) 286
Psalm 126: A Song about Restoration (ii) 289
Psalm 127: A Song about Security in the Home (i) 295
Psalm 128: A Song about Security in the Home (ii) 300
Psalm 129: A Song about Restoration (iii) 304
Psalms 130–134: Departing from Zion 309
Psalm 130: A Song from the Depths: The Soul and God (i) 310
Psalm 131: A Song of Childlike Trust: The Soul and God (ii) 321
Psalm 132: A Song of the Temple and the Messiah 325
Psalm 133: ‘Hinneh Ma Tov’: A Song about Unity in Zion 331
Psalm 134: ‘Hinneh Baraku’: A Song of Blessing from Zion 337
Psalms 135–137: A Trilogy of Psalms Concerning Restoration 342
Psalm 135: Praise of the Uniqueness of the Lord 343
Psalm 136: Thanksgiving for the Kindness of the Lord 347
Psalm 137: To Sing or Not to Sing? Waiting for Justice from God 353
Psalms 138–145: A Final Davidic Psalter 371
Psalm 138: In Praise of God before Gods, Kings and Angels 372
Psalm 139: Knowing and Being Known by God 376
Psalm 140: Poisoned Tongues 385
Psalm 141: Guarding the Tongue. An Evening Prayer 388
Psalm 142: Prayer for Deliverance. Another Evening Prayer 392
Psalm 143: God’s Righteousness and Human Unrighteousness 395
Psalm 144: Of Giants and Unicorns 400
Psalm 145: A Song of Praise at the Beginning of the End of the Psalter 405
Psalms 146–151: The End of the Psalter 412
Psalms 146–150: The Final Hallel 412
Psalm 146: Praise for God’s Sovereignty and His Provision for All People 414
Psalm 147: Praise for God’s Sovereignty and His Provision for Israel 418
Psalm 148: Praise Has Cosmic Implications 424
Psalm 149: Praise Has Political Implications 430
Psalm 150: Praise in Music 435
Psalm 151: Supernumerary: In Remembrance of David 448
Appendix: Psalms Numbering Table454 Glossary of Terms 459
References 473 Index of Names 495
Psalms Index 505
Subject Index 510
