TheoSource: Studying the Psalms

[Psalms Dead Sea Scroll Fragment]

At the heart of this blog is a project called TheoSource. This project is an attempt to collect recommendations and notes about theological books. I would like to start a series of post which will be updated periodically as new information is collected. Much of this information can be found in the Recommendation Lists. I hope that this work will prove helpful to you.

We will be updating this list periodically with more titles, sources of recommendations, sources of reviews, and notes. Helpful information noted in the comments to this post will be considered for future updates. Your input will be greatly appreciated.

WHAT COMMENTATORS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE PSALTER

Athanasius -

An epitome of the whole Scriptures. (1)

Each book of the Bible has, of course, its own particular message.... Each of these books, you see, is like a garden which grows one special kind of fruit; by contrast, the Psalter is a garden which, besides its special fruit, grows also some of those of all the rest.

...the Psalter has certainly a very special grace, a choiceness of quality well worthy to be pondered; for, besides the characteristics which it shares with others, it has this peculiar marvel of its own, that within it are represented and portrayed in all their great variety the movements of the human soul. It is like a picture, in which you see yourself portrayed, and seeing, may understand and consequently form yourself upon the pattern given.

...in the Psalter...you learn about yourself. You find depicted in it all the movements of your soul, all its changes, its ups and downs, its failures and recoveries. Moreover, whatever your particular need or trouble, from this same book you can select a form of words to fit it, so that you do not merely hear and then pass on, but learn the way to remedy your ill.

Holy Scripture is not designed to tickle the aesthetic palate, and it is rather for the soul's own profit that the Psalms are sung.

For I think that in the words of this book all human life is covered, with all its states and thoughts, and that nothing further can be found in man. For no matter what you seek, whether it be repentance and confession, or help in trouble and temptation or under persecution, whether you have been set free from plots and snares or, on the contrary, are sad for any reason, or whether, seeing yourself progressing and your enemy cast down, you want to praise and thank and bless the Lord, each of these things the Divine Psalms shows you how to do, and in every case the words you want are written down for you, and you can say them as your own. (To Marcellinus) (2)

Basil -

A compendium of all theology. (1)

Luther -

The Psalter might well be called a little Bible. In it is comprehended most beautifully and briefly everything that is in the entire Bible. It is really a fine enchiridion or handbook. (from Luther's Works, 35:254) (3)
In the Psalms we looked into the heart of all the saints, and we seem to gaze into fair pleasure gardens--into heaven itself, indeed--where blooms in sweet, refreshing, gladdening flowers of holy and happy thoughts about God and all his benefits. (4)

Melancthon -

The most elegant work extant in the world. (1)

Calvin -

I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, “An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul;” for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated….It is by perusing these inspired compositions, that men will be most effectually awakened to a sense of their maladies, and, at the same time, instructed in seeking remedies for their cure. In a word, whatever may serve to encourage us when we are about to pray to God, is taught us in this book. (5)

Tremper Longman -

The Psalms are a kind of literary sanctuary in the Scripture. The place where God meets his people in a special way, where his people may address him with their praise and lament. (6)

Derek Kidner -

[T]he Psalter, taken on its own terms, is not so much a literary library, storing up standard literature for cultic requirements, as a hospitable house, well lived in, where most things can be found and borrowed after some searching, and whose first occupants have left on it everywhere the imprint of their experiences and the stamp of their characters. (7)

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Quoted by James Anderson in his "Introductory Notice" to Calvin's Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1, p. vii.
The Letter of Athanasius, Our Holy Father, Archbishop of Alexandria, To Marcellinus on the Interpretation of the Psalms. http://athanasius.com/psalms/aletterm.htm
Quoted by James L. Mays in Psalms. Interpretation, p. 1.
Quoted by Longman in How to Read the Psalms, p. 13.
John Calvin in "The Author's Preface" to Calvin's Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1, p. xxxvii.
Tremper Longman. How to Read the Psalms, p. 12.
Derek Kidner. Psalms 1-72: An Introduction & Commentary, p. 18.

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OUTLINE OF SOURCES FOR STUDYING THE PSALMS

Introductory Works on the Psalms

Critical Works on the Psalms

Theology of the Psalms

20th & 21st Century Commentaries on the Psalms

19th Century Commentaries on the Psalms

17th Century & Earlier Commentaries on the Psalms

Commentaries on Psalm 23

Studying the Psalms of Ascents

Special Topics on the Psalms

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ONLINE BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE PSALTER

Hieke, Thomas. Psalmenkommentare - Commentaries on the Psalms.

Hildebrandt, Ted. Psalms Rough and Working Bibliography 3/1/05 (330 pages).

Psalms eSources

ONLINE COMMENTARIES ON THE PSALTER

Bible.org

Thomas Aquinas:

Aquinas' Exposition of the Psalms

St. Augustin:

Exposition on the Book of Psalms

Albert Barnes:

Notes on the Old
Testament Explanatory and Practical: Psalms Vol. 1
Notes on the Old Testament
Explanatory and Practical: Psalms Vol. 2
Notes on the Old Testament
Explanatory and Practical: Psalms Vol. 3

John Calvin:

Commentary on Psalms - Volume 1
Commentary on Psalms -Volume 2
Commentary on Psalms -Volume 3
Commentary on Psalms -Volume 4
Commentary on Psalms -Volume 5

A. R. Faussett:

Psalms

Matthew Henry:

Psalms

Alexander MacLaren:

Expositions of Holy Scripture: Psalms

Charles H. Spurgeon:

Treasury of David:Volume I
Treasury of David:Volume II
Treasury of David:Volume III
Treasury of David:Volume IV
Treasury of David:Volume V
Treasury of David:Volume VI

John Wesley:

NOTES ON THE BOOK OF PSALMS

ONLINE LECTURES ON THE PSALTER

Psalms Instructor: Dr Bruce Waltke

Delightfully conservative. Dr Waltke is a careful OT scholar who refuses to bow to the prevailing torrent of modern biblical criticism.

Psalms & Wisdom Books Instructor: Dr V. Philips Long, former professor at Covenant Theological Seminary

Conservative, evangelical and thorough. Dr Long's lectures are in depth and very engaging.

Dr Gordon Wenham (3/27/06)

Dr Robert V. McCabe [DBTS] (10/06 Mid-America Conference on Preaching)

Preaching from the Psalms

Weekly Tehilim Lecture Rabbi Feivel Brody

This is a very intriguing series of talks through the Book of Psalms. You'll get a Jewish perspective on the Psalms as well as some great help with your Hebrew.

AUDIO OF THE HEBREW PSALTER

Hebrew Audio (MP3 files of the entire OT)

PREACHING THE PSALTER

Daniel Akin is preaching a series of sermons entitled Through the Psalms. These messages can be found (with outlines and handouts, too) here. In the mix are other messages he has preached on the Psalms.

Mark Dever preached a series entitled Ancient Wisdom. Here is his sermon on the book of Psalms - Wisdom of Spiritual People: The Message of the Psalms.

Steve Lawson has posted two sermons introducing the book of Psalms.