Psalms: Reading and Studying the Book of Praises

by William H. Bellinger Jr.

"The Study of the Old Testament Psalter has undergone great changes during the twentieth century in an effort to recover a fuller awareness of their original setting and purpose . . . Bellinger's book admirably fulfils the task of exploring the many insights of modern scholarship on the psalms in order to clarify the faith to which they bear witness. It does this by showing the real-life situations which occasioned the formulation of prayers of complaint and praise, opening up a warm sense of the humanity and faith which they nurtured. Readers will find a great richness of scholarship here set out in vigorous and exciting language to make plain that the psalter retains a powerful challenge for the present day. These psalms explore the whole range of human experience and provide a vehicle by which faith can become articulate and sharply focused, even when faced with pain and doubt. The sheer honesty of these prayers challenges contemporary complacency."
—Ronald E. Clements, Professor of Old Testament Studies, King's College, University of London "Bellinger has created an excellent primer for the Psalms . . . I like his use of examples in each section and his references in each chapter to what has gone before."
—Victor Matthews, Professor of Religious Studies, Southwest Missouri State University

Genres: Old Testament, Christian, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1990

About the author

William H. Bellinger, Jr. (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of religion and chair of the department at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He currently serves on the steering committee for the Book of Psalms Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and is on the editorial board of Catholic Biblical Quarterly. He is the author of several volumes on the Psalms.

Reviews

[Josh Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bellinger offers an inviting and engaging introduction and study of the Psalms. This book functions as a brief, yet immensely helpful, guide to the Psalter. I would recommend this to anyone looking to study the Psalms or the Old Testament.

[Linda Tweed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive text -a helpful guide for finding deeper insights into the beautiful songs and liturgical prayers of ancient times.

[Dan Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent primer on the Psalms. Bellinger introduces the book of Psalms over all, briefly summarizes the history of Psalms study, discusses how to read the Psalms, then outlines the various types of Psalms (lament, praise, royal, wisdom), and finishes with a brief discussion on how the Psalms function in the life of faith. Each chapter discussing a particular type of Psalm looks at its type and structure, its setting (both the circumstances that inspired it and the way it was incorporated into Israel's worship), and then goes on to discuss how to study each type, including its particular typical shape or form, its rhetoric, exceptions to the norm, etc., all with specific examples to illustrate each point. It includes suggestions for further study, study/review questions at the end, and a helpful glossary of terms. This is not a commentary but ought to be read before digging into the commentaries in order to orient the reader. The language and format are both very accessible and the length not at all intimidating (only 164 pages, which includes the questions and glossary). I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting to begin a serious study of the Psalms.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief introduction to the Psalms is a great entry point into how to read the Psalter, giving attention to kinds of psalms, theological themes, background issues, and the importance of the overall structure of the Psalter. Many helpful examples are appended, as well as discussion questions and suggestions for further reading. Hebrew is occasionally brought into the discussion (how could it not be?), but it is always given in original characters, transliteration, and translation, so that nothing is lost on those who do not know the language. Highly recommended for students, pastors, small group leaders, and interested lay persons.

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a college course I was taking. It was actually quite good. It talks about the different kinds of psalms (wisdom psalms, lament psalms) and the properties of those psalms. It also gives background information on them and gives examples of each type. Furthermore, it teaches you to recognize what types of psalms you are reading. It was incredibly interesting for anyone interested in literature or biblical studies.