How to Read the Psalms
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
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 from the earliest times to the present. 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 gives us the kind of help we need to overcome the distance between the psalmists' world and ours. He explains the various kinds of psalms, the way they were used in Hebrewworship and their relationship to the rest of the Old Testament. Then he looks at how Christians can appropriate their message and insights today. Turning to the art of Old Testament poetry, he explains the use of parallelism and imagery. Step-by-step suggestions for interpretating the psalms on our own are followed by exercises for further study and reflection. Also included is a helpful guide to commentaries on the Psalms.
Endorsements (7)
“For over thirty years, countless believers have benefited from How to Read the Psalms. Its secret sauce is its combination of literary guidance on genres and poetry, theological guidance for praying in view of Christ, and practical guidance on how readers can engage personally with God. May this second edition continue to equip the next generation to meet with God through the Psalter.”
“Longman has a unique gift to make complex biblical ideas clear and understandable. In this introduction to the Psalms, he writes with a scholar's experience and wisdom, and with a pastor's ability to connect Scripture to everyday life and practice. I will continue to use Longman's book not only as a textbook in my courses but also as a resource to help me understand and appreciate the Psalms.”
“The Psalms have long been thought of as the great prayer book of the Bible, but that has often been a distinction more noted than lived. No more. Tremper Longman III has given us a guide for not only reading and understanding these classic expressions of the soul-at-depth but also allowing them to form our lives.”
“In this updated introduction to the Psalms, Longman offers readers a solid foundation for understanding and appreciating these beloved Scriptures. In addition to learning about important facets of the Psalms, such as genre and poetics, readers have an opportunity to see interpretation of the Psalms modeled, and even test their understanding with exercises for each chapter. I will be recommending this book to my students, church members, and everyone who wishes to explore this 'mirror of thesoul'!”
“Most of us can find the book of Psalms in our Bible by familiarity of touch. It is the most read portion of the Bible for dear and clear reasons. The Psalms attune, evoke, and give voice to some of our deepest struggles and desires. The Psalms are also complex poetic masterpieces that need a thoughtful guide to explicate the full richness of what is read. Tremper is a brilliant and passionate guide whose heart is shaped by the cry of the Psalms and transformed by the promise of Jesus in them. You can't find a better ally than Tremper to read the life-giving gift of the Psalms.”
“With this second edition, Tremper Longman III has placed us all in his debt. With theological and literary sensitivity, and drawing on his wide research on Psalms, he introduces readers to the main issues needed to read Psalms well and the resources that can enable their further reading. A foundational work, this deserves to be read widely.”
“There is no better guide to reading and understanding the biblical Psalms than Tremper Longman. Bringing decades of his expertise to a new culmination in this second edition of How to Read the Psalms, Longman's work continues to be the go-to resource for students, pastors, and all who want to seriously engage the heart of the Old Testament and its anticipation of Jesus Christ.”
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