Invitation to the Psalms

This readable textbook on the Psalms introduces students to the dynamics of the biblical text, helping them become careful and attentive readers. Now updated and expanded. "An invaluable resource for exploring the riches of the Psalter" The book of Psalms is perhaps the most cherished book in the Old Testament. In this lively volume, two experienced teachers introduce us to the dynamics of the biblical text, helping us become careful and attentive readers. The second edition adds a chapter on the shape and shaping of the Psalter and sidebars that highlight the use of the Psalms in popular culture. "This volume invites readers to enter the world of the Psalter, and then, like a wise guide, it points out the scenery, the history, and the stories along the way. With accessible language and instructive (and often humorous) examples, this is a trustworthy companion to the prayer book of ancient Israel, a book that has shaped both Jewish and Christian worshiping communities for millennia. This volume will be an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and small groups as they seek to explore the riches of the Psalter." -- Kathryn Schifferdecker, Luther Seminary "For a decade, Rolf and Karl Jacobson have invited readers to understand and appreciate the Psalms more deeply. Their introduction synthesizes and distills the best scholarship on Hebrew poetry, the forms and functions of the psalms, and the theology of the Psalter into an accessible guide for interpretation. With the second edition, the Jacobsons draw additional attention to how the arrangement of and connections between individual psalms may impact their meaning--and to how the book of Psalms connects meaningfully with the larger culture, from Whitney Houston to Hollywood Westerns to Minnesota's ten thousand lakes." -- Rebecca W. Poe Hays, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University The book of Psalms is perhaps the most cherished book in the Old Testament. In this lively volume, two experienced teachers invite us to read and explore the Psalter and roam widely among its poems. Invitation to the Psalms introduces the dynamics of the biblical text, helping students of the Bible become careful and attentive readers. This clear and concise guide covers how to read Hebrew poetry, the Psalter's basic genres, the idea of "the psalmist," the metaphorical world of the Psalms, and the theology of the Psalms. It gives readers confidence to explore the Psalms on their own and could readily be used in the first weeks of class to orient students to the Psalms. The second edition of this popular textbook, now updated and expanded, adds a chapter on the shape and shaping of the Psalter and sidebars that highlight the use of the Psalms in popular culture. Discussion questions are also included.