design by Wiley
Set in 10/12.5pt MinionPro by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India
For my three grandchildren Sophia and Noah Boutayeb and Ayaan Gillingham-Ahmed, the next generation.
Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord.
(Ps. 102:18)
Contents
1 Cover
7 Preface
9 BOOK THREE: PSALMS 73–89 Remembering, Human and DivinePsalms 73–83: The Asaphite Collection: ‘How Long, O Lord?’Psalms 73–77: ‘Has God Forgotten to be Gracious?’Psalm 73: A Didactic Psalm about the ImpiousPsalm 74: A Communal Lament about Ongoing ExilePsalm 75: God’s Abode is in Zion (i)Psalm 76: God’s Abode is in Zion (ii)Psalm 77: An Individual Lament about Ongoing ExilePsalms 78–83: ‘Will You be Angry Forever?’Psalm 78: A Didactic Psalm about God’s Judgement on His PeoplePsalm 79: A Communal Lament about Ongoing Exile (i)Psalm 80: A Communal Lament about Ongoing Exile (ii)Psalm 81: God’s Abode is in Zion (i)Psalm 82: God’s Abode is in Zion (ii)Psalm 83: An Individual Lament about Ongoing ExilePsalms 84–89: The Korahite Collection: ‘Will God Remember Zion?’Psalms 84–88: ‘Restore us Again, O Lord!’Psalm 84: Longing for the TemplePsalm 85: Praying for National DeliverancePsalm 86: In Memory of DavidPsalm 87: God is King in ZionPsalm 88: A Psalm of Complaint and InstructionPsalm 89: Remembering the Covenant with David
10 BOOK FOUR: PSALMS 90–106 Human Transience and the Everlasting GodPsalms 90–92: God as RefugePsalm 90: Lamenting Human TransiencePsalm 91: God’s Promise of ProtectionPsalm 92: A Thanksgiving Song for the SabbathPsalms 93–94, 95–100: God as KingPsalm 93: God’s Kingship is for EverPsalm 94: God Will Come to Judge the Nations of the EarthPsalm 95: God’s People are Called upon to Acknowledge God as KingPsalm 96: ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’ (i)Psalm 97: God Reigns in Zion (i)Psalm 98: ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’ (ii)Psalm 99: God Reigns in Zion (ii)Psalm 100: The Whole Earth is Called upon to Acknowledge God as KingPsalms 101–103: God as DefenderPsalm 101: David: The Model ServantPsalm 102: A Penitential Prayer of a Suffering ServantPsalm 103: God’s Compassion is EverlastingPsalms 104–106: God as Creator and RedeemerPsalm 104: A Hymn to God as CreatorPsalm 105: A Thanksgiving Song: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (i)Psalm 106: A Lament: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (ii)
11 BOOK FIVE: PSALMS 107–151 Envisaging Restoration: The Divine Plan in HistoryPsalm 107: God as Redeemer in Israel’s History (iii)Psalms 108–110: A Trilogy of Psalms Concerning DavidPsalm 108: A Composite Psalm of RemembrancePsalm 109: Living with AbusePsalm 110: A Psalm about Abraham, David, the Messiah and ChristPsalms 111–112: Two Acrostic PsalmsPsalm 111: An Acrostic Psalm Concerning the Righteousness of GodPsalm 112: An Acrostic Psalm Concerning Human RighteousnessPsalms 113–118: A Liturgical Collection (i)Psalm 113: God Elevates the PoorPsalm 114: A Passover PsalmPsalm 115: A Liturgy: The Lifelessness of Idols and the Life-Giving GodPsalm 116: The Fate of the Dead and the Cup of SalvationPsalm 117: Brief Praise with Abundant ImplicationsPsalm 118: A Psalm with Many VoicesPsalm 119: Reflections on the Formation of CharacterPsalms 120–134: A Liturgical Collection (ii)Psalms 120–124: Arrival at ZionPsalm 120: A Song from the DiasporaPsalm 121: A Song of JourneyingPsalm 122: A Song of ArrivalPsalm 123: A Song Praying for MercyPsalm 124: A Song about National DeliverancePsalms 125–129: Blessings from ZionPsalm 125: A Song about Restoration (i)Psalm 126: A Song about Restoration (ii)Psalm 127: A Song about Security in the Home (i)Psalm 128: A Song about Security in the Home (ii)Psalm 129: A Song about Restoration (iii)Psalms 130–134: Departing from ZionPsalm 130: A Song from the Depths: The Soul and God (i)Psalm 131: A Song of Childlike Trust: The Soul and God (ii)Psalm 132: A Song of the Temple and the MessiahPsalm 133: ‘Hinneh Ma Tov’: A Song about Unity in ZionPsalm 134: ‘Hinneh Baraku’: A Song of Blessing from ZionPsalms 135–137: A Trilogy of Psalms Concerning RestorationPsalm 135: Praise of the Uniqueness of the LordPsalm 136: Thanksgiving for the Kindness of the LordPsalm 137: To Sing or Not to Sing? Waiting for Justice from GodPsalms 138–145: A Final Davidic PsalterPsalm 138: In Praise of God before Gods, Kings and AngelsPsalm 139: Knowing and Being Known by GodPsalm 140: Poisoned TonguesPsalm 141: Guarding the Tongue. An Evening PrayerPsalm 142: Prayer for Deliverance. Another Evening PrayerPsalm 143: God’s Righteousness and Human UnrighteousnessPsalm 144: Of Giants and UnicornsPsalm 145: A Song of Praise at the Beginning of the End of the PsalterPsalms 146–151: The End of the PsalterPsalms 146–150: The Final HallelPsalm 146: Praise for God’s Sovereignty and His Provision for All PeoplePsalm 147: Praise for God’s Sovereignty and His Provision for IsraelPsalm 148: Praise Has Cosmic ImplicationsPsalm 149: Praise Has Political ImplicationsPsalm 150: Praise in MusicPsalm 151: Supernumerary: In Remembrance of David
12 Appendix: Psalms Numbering Table
14 References
16 Psalms Index
18 Plates
List of Illustrations
