Reading the Psalms Again for the First Time - Paperback

by J. Clinton Jr. McCann (Author)

Why is the most important text in the Bible a psalm, more specifically, Psalm 82? Because this psalm portrays genuine divinity as an unwavering commitment to justice, defined as attention to and provision for the most vulnerable. Furthermore, according to Psalm 82, the well-being of the human family depends on divine justice, as does peace on earth and a stable future for the planet. The Psalms historically have nurtured a form of spirituality that is person-centered and that invites people to identify with the range of emotions expressed in the Psalter's praises and laments. This is good, but the Psalms do more! Beginning with Psalm 82, this volume involves a re-reading of the traditional psalmic genres, including the enthronement psalms, royal psalms, a torah psalm, the laments, the songs of praise, the psalms of assurance, and the Songs of Zion. Such a re-reading reveals that the Psalms also nurture an activist spirituality that invites people to join God in God's work of establishing justice and peace on a creation-encompassing scale. The world depends on it!

Author Biography

J. Clinton McCann Jr. is the evangelical professor of biblical interpretation at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the author of many books and articles, including The New Interpreter's Bible commentary on the Psalms, A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms, and Great Psalms of the Bible. He was the consulting translator of the book of Psalms for The Common English Bible.