The Psalms as Christian Praise A Historical Commentary _.jpg

The Psalms as Christian Lament: A Historical Commentary

James M. Houston & Bruce K. Waltke

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Eerdmans (Nov. 19 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802877028
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802877024
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 499 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.49 x 2.29 x 23.37 cm

About the Book

Two respected scholars explore the heart of the Psalms

Following in the style of their companion volumes, The Psalms as Christian Worship and The Psalms as Christian Lament, Bruce Waltke and James Houston now explore the depths of Christian praise. Each volume uniquely blends verse-by-verse commentary with a history of Psalms interpretation in the church from the time of the apostles to the present.

Since praise is the essence of the book of Psalms, Waltke and Houston have narrowed the focus to Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90-106), which magnify God and proclaim him king. To give voice to the psalmist, the authors (carefully) translate and explain each psalm and summarize its theological message. This is followed by listening to the voice of godly churchmen whose comments have stood the test of time. The Psalms as Christian Praise is ideal for anyone seeking to better understand the praise of Israel as found in the Psalms and how Christians also use these Psalms in worship.

Preface xi

1 The Psalms as Christian Praise 1

I What: The Object of Praise, I AM 1

II Why Praise 6

III Who, Where, and When 12

IV How to Praise 22

2 Psalm 90: The Voice of Chastened Wisdom 27

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 27

Part II Commentary 31

I Introduction 31

II Exegesis 37

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 55

I Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 295-373) 56

II Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 57

III Gregory of Nyssa (c. 332-395) 58

IV Martin Luther (1483-1546) 58

Part IV Conclusion 61

I Canonical Context 61

II Message 61

3 Psalm 91: The Messiah's Invulnerability and Invincibility 63

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 63

Part II Commentary 67

I Introduction 67

II Exegesis 73

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 89

I Psalm 91 as Apotropaic 89

II Psalm 91 as Confessional in Temptation 90

III Jerome (342-420) 90

IV Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 90

V Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090-1145) 92

Part IV Conclusion 97

4 Psalm 92: You Are on High Forever, I AM! 98

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 98

Part II Commentary 101

I Introduction 101

II Exegesis 105

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 120

I The Origin of Psalm 92 for the Sabbath 120

II The Creation and the Eternal Sabbath 120

III The Church's Reception of a Sabbath Psalm 123

IV Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 124

V Medieval and Early Modern Poets 125

VI Living a Godly Life according to the Reformers 128

Part IV Conclusion 129

5 Psalm 93: I AM's Throne and the Earth Stand Firm 131

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 131

Part II Commentary 132

I Introduction 132

II Exegesis 136

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 142

I Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 142

II E. W. Hengstenberg (1802-1869) 142

Part IV Conclusion 143

6 Psalm 95: Venite 145

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 145

Part II Commentary 146

I Introduction 146

II Exegesis 149

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 155

I Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 156

II John Calvin (1509-1564) 157

III Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) 159

Part IV Conclusion 161

I Canonical Context 161

II Message 162

7 Psalm 96: The King Comes to Establish Justice 165

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 165

Part II Commentary 167

I Introduction 167

II Exegesis 170

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 179

I Early Use of the Psalm in Temple Liturgy 179

II Early Christian Use of the Psalm 180

III Musical Psalmody among the Early Fathers 180

IV The Second Great Church Period of Hymnody 183

Part IV Conclusion 184

I Canonical Context 184

II Message 184

8 Psalm 97: His Chariots of Wrath the Deep Thunderclouds Form 188

Part 1 Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 188

Part II Commentary 190

I Introduction 190

II Exegesis 194

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 204

I Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) 204

II Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) 205

III Andrew A. Bonar (1758-1821) 206

IV John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) 207

V The Modern French Existentialists 208

Part IV Conclusion 209

I Literary Context 209

II Message 209

III Canonical Context 210

9 Psalm 98: A Divine Warrior Victory Song 212

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 212

Part II Commentary 213

I Introduction 213

II Exegesis 218

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 224

I New Testament 224

II Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 224

III John Calvin (1509-1564) 225

Part IV Conclusion 227

I Canonical Context 227

II Message 228

10 Psalm 99: Holy Is He 230

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 230

Part II Commentary 233

I Introduction 233

II Exegesis 236

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 245

I Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 245

II Bonaventure (1217-1274)

III William Romaine (1714-1795) 248

Part IV Conclusion 251

I Changing Canonical Contexts 251

II Message 251

11Psalm 100: Jubilate Deo 254

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 254

Part II Commentary 255

I Introduction 255

II Exegesis 256

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 263

I Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 263

II Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) 264

III William Romaine (1714-1795) 265

Part IV Conclusion 266

I Literary Context 266

II Message 266

12 Psalm 103: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven 268

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 268

Part II Commentary 270

I Introduction 270

II Exegesis 272

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 281

I Introduction 281

II Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 282

III John Calvin (1509-1564) 287

IV William Swan Plumer (1802-1880) 288

Part IV Conclusion 290

I Canonical Context 290

II Message 291

13 Psalm 104: A Very Great God 292

Part I Voice of the Psalmist: Translation 292

Part II Commentary 295

I Introduction 295

II Exegesis 298

Part III Voice of the Church in Response 316

I Matthew Henry (1662-1714) 317

II William Swan Plumer (1802-1880) 319

III Andre Chouraqui (1917-2007) 319

Part IV Conclusion 320

Glossary 323

Index of Authors 329

Index of Subjects 333

Index of Scripture References 338

What Others Say About the Book

Clint McCann
Eden Theological Seminary

Review of Biblical Literature

John Walton
Wheaton College

J. I. Packer

“With this volume, Bruce Waltke and James Houston complete an impressive trilogy that relates the Psalms to Christian worship, lament, and praise. Their exegesis is extraordinarily well informed, and their attention to the history of interpretation of the Psalms makes it eminently clear how the Psalms have served and continue to serve as Christian praise.”

“Serves both academy and church well.”

“A treasure trove of wisdom from reliable scholars who know the obstacles inherent in the Hebrew text but also have long experience distilling biblical insights for the benefit of the church.”

“Masterful exegesis here blends with luminous theological perspectives and pastoral insights.”