The Message of the Psalms (Augsburg Old Testament Studies) [Paperback]

Walter Brueggemann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1985

Dr. Brueggemann describes the human cries of anguish and the exultations of praise expressed in the Psalms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: FORTRESS PRESS (January 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806621206
• ISBN-13: 978-0806621203
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Walter Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is the world's leading interpreter of the Old Testament and is the author of numerous books, including Westminster John Knox Press best sellers such as Genesis and First and Second Samuel in the Interpretation series, An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination, and Reverberations of Faith: A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MESSAGE OF THE PSALMS, August 16, 2000

By 

Chris Saddler (Eagle River, Alaska United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Message of the Psalms (Augsburg Old Testament Studies) (Paperback)

I was loaned this book at a very difficult time in my life. I could no longer trust a God who had allowed my son to die. But by no longer conversing with God, I also lost my source of sustenance and renewal.

This book describes how the Psalms document the changes/seasons of a believing community's life of faith: a movement of faith from orientation to disorientation to a new orientation.

It helped me to understand that my relationship with God changes with my experiences of life. And that although I may be experiencing a period of disorientation in respect to God, eventually I will arrive at a new orientation, as did the people of Israel.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Psalms in their Theological-Psychological Perspectives, April 28, 2006

By 

Dr. Robert Hackler "Grandpa Spells" (Orlando, Fl. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Message of the Psalms (Augsburg Old Testament Studies) (Paperback)

Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament professor/mentor/friend, taught this material at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri and later as a continuing education workshop in Florida. This is, in my judgment, the best work done on the Psalms and I use it as the basic text in my course in Florida Christian University/Theological Seminary on "The Psalms and Counseling". Not only does Brueggeman categorize the Psalms into "Orientation", "Disorientation", and "New Orientation" (an improvement on "Reinorientation" as a type), but he also helps us have a psychological perspective on these psalms and their uses within the church and our personal appropriation/and belief systems. This helps us find our route through disorientation and depression on into new orientation and joyful health.

27 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Language too schlorarly for the average person, June 20, 2006

By 

M. Walcott (Darien, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Message of the Psalms (Augsburg Old Testament Studies) (Paperback)

Found the language of the book too scholarly. Example: "The verbal form expressing Yahweh's actions is characteristically participial; that is, this is not an intrusive eventfulness, but an assured ongoing process that Yahweh does regularly and everywhere." The entire book is written in this manner.

I'm sure the contents are probably excellent but I found this book too difficult to read for the average joe.