How to Read the Psalms

by Tremper Longman III

Publisher:

IVP

, 1988

Overview

The Psalms possess an enduring fascination for us. For frankness, directness, intensity, and intimacy, they are unrivaled in all of Scripture. Somehow the psalmists seem to have anticipated all our awe, desires, and frustrations. No wonder Christians have used the Psalms in worship since the earliest times. Yet the Psalms cause us difficulties when we look at them closely. Their poetry is unfamiliar in form. Many images they use are foreign to us today. And the psalmists sometimes express thoughts that seem unworthy of Scripture.

Tremper Longman helps us overcome the distance between the psalmists’ world and ours. He explains the various kinds of psalms, the way they were used in Hebrew worship, and their relationship to the rest of the Old Testament. He looks at how Christians can appropriate their messages and insights today. He explains the use of parallelism and imagery.

Step-by-step suggestions for interpreting the psalms are followed by exercises for further study and reflection. Also included is a helpful guide to commentaries on the Psalms. How to Read the Psalms is a book for all those who long to better understand these mirrors of the soul.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Explains how the psalms were used in Hebrew worship
• Looks at how Christians can appropriate the psalms messages and insights today
• Helps readers overcome the distance between the psalmists’ world and ours

Contents

• The Genres of the Psalms
• The Origin, Development and Use of the Psalms
• The Psalms: The Heart of the Old Testament
• A Christian Reading of the Psalms
• The Psalms: Mirror of the Soul
• Old Testament Poetry
• Understanding Parallelism
• Imagery in the Psalms
• Psalm 98: Let All the Earth Praise God, Our Warrior
• Psalm 69: Lord, I Suffer for Your Sake
• Psalm 30: Thank You, Lord, for Healing Me!

Top Highlights

“Genre refers to a group of texts similar in their mood, content, structure or phraseology.” (Page 20)

“Toward the pole of generality, all psalms are in the genre of poetry, but our discussion now will focus on a narrower level of genre. The seven genres which we will describe are the hymn, the lament, the thanksgiving psalm, the psalm of remembrance, the psalm of confidence, the wisdom psalm and the kingship psalm. These seven genres may be broken down further into even narrower genres.” (Pages 23–24)

“Hymns are easily recognized by their exuberant praise of the Lord.” (Page 24)

“The thanksgiving psalm is a response to answered lament.” (Page 30)

“The reasons for praise, however, form the most significant part of the psalm. God is not praised for abstract qualities, but rather for the way in which he has entered into the individual and corporate lives of his people.” (Page 25)

Product Details

• Title: How to Read the Psalms
• Author: Tremper Longman III
• Publisher: IVP
• Print Publication Date: 1988
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 166
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Psalms › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. O.T. Psalms › Critical studies
• ISBNs: 9780830875627, 9780877849414, 9780851107875, 0877849412, 0851107877, 083087562X
• Resource ID: LLS:HOWREADPSALMS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:35:12Z

About Tremper Longman III

Tremper Longman III serves as Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. He has written over 35 books, including commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, Nahum, and Revelation. His books have been translated into 18 different languages. In addition, as a Hebrew scholar, he is one of the main translators of the popular New Living Translation, and has served as a consultant on other popular Bible translations, including The Message, the New Century Version, the Christian Standard Bible, and the Common Bible. He has also edited and contributed to a number of study Bibles and Bible dictionaries, most recently The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

He earned his BA from Ohio Wesleyan University, his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary, and both his MPhil and PhD from Yale University. Dr. Longman and his wife, Alice, have three sons and eight grandchildren.