Psalms: Psalms 90-150 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) [Hardcover]

John Goldingay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008 | Series: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms

John Goldingay's three-volume commentary on the book of Psalms is now complete with this third volume. This work combines literary, historical, grammatical, and theological insights in a widely accessible manner. One of today's foremost experts on biblical theology, Goldingay covers Psalms 90-150 with his own translation of each passage, followed by interpretive comments and discussion of the theological implications.

"The book of Psalms is the literary sanctuary; a holy place where humans share their joys and struggles with brutal honesty in God's presence," writes Tremper Longman III, editor of the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms series. Pastors, seminary students, scholars, and Bible study leaders will enjoy this enriching volume. Goldingay's Psalms commentary is also available as a three-volume set.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"This is in many respects the ideal commentary for students aiming for service within the church and for their teachers: it is a solid academic commentary that explores the theological message of the Psalter from a Christian viewpoint."--L.-S. Tiemeyer, Society for Old Testament Study Book List"[Goldingay] is distinguished for his contributions to Old Testament hermeneutics and theology. . . . For each psalm Goldingay offers a fresh translation with footnotes detailing matters of morphology, syntax, and textual criticism. . . . A carefully selected sample of bibliographic suggestions, again set within footnotes, leads the reader to more technical discussion. . . . This commentary is marked by mature exegetical and spiritual reflection, carefully balanced for the needs of pastors."--John W. Hilber, Bibliotheca Sacra"This critical commentary will be appreciated by scholars and serious Bible students."--Dianne Bergant, CSA, Bible Today"One of our premier interpreters, John Goldingay, offers here a comprehensive treatment of the Psalms. Rarely does one find such a combination of close attention to grammatical and syntactical features joined with literary sensitivity, and all of it aimed at theological appropriation of the Psalms. Don't be surprised to find Anne Lamott alongside Luther, Calvin, Aquinas, and Isaac Watts. A basic resource for studying the Psalms."--Patrick D. Miller, professor of Old Testament theology emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary"John Goldingay has come to this commentary after extensive work in other areas of biblical study. He has written a major commentary that incorporates solid, mainline scholarship, and it belongs with leading commentaries on the Psalter. His readers will find him to be a competent, mature, and careful guide in interpreting the Psalms. I recommend his work."--Marvin E. Tate, senior professor of Old Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary"A fine commentary that combines excellent scholarship and deep, practical spiritual reflection. Readers will find it to be an invaluable resource for their own life journeys, not least in the constructive challenge it presents to some modern Christian understandings of biblical spirituality."--Iain Provan, Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies, Regent College

From the Back Cover

In this third and final volume of his commentary on the book of Psalms, Old Testament scholar John Goldingay provides fresh insights on Psalms 90-150. Writing with a scholar's eye and a pastor's heart, he considers the literary, historical, and grammatical dimensions of the text as well as its theological implications.The Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms series is tailored to the distinctives of poetry and Wisdom literature. The series features emphasis on the message of the biblical book; special attention to poetic structure and literary devices; incisive comments based on the author's translation of the Hebrew text; exegetical rigor that incorporates linguistic, historical, and canonical insights; closing reflections on each section that explore the text's theological dimensions; and textual notes that highlight important features of the Hebrew text."[Goldingay] bring[s] texts alive for readers today. . . . His considerable scholarship opens the Psalms in the service of theological and ethical reflection and of the spiritual life. Literary and verbal features of the texts appear in clear, digestible amounts, and Goldingay's theological reflections make the book a valuable resource."--Kathleen O'Connor, Christian Century"This commentary is a worthwhile addition to the library of every Old Testament scholar, theological student, and perhaps especially every minister who needs to prepare sermons from the Psalter. . . . It contains a treasury of learning and recent research into the Psalms. Its strongest feature might be the stimulating and challenging remarks the author makes in the discussion of the theology of each psalm."--Philippus J. Botha, Review of Biblical Literature"Scholars will appreciate especially John Goldingay's annotated translations; his careful and detailed textual analyses, often containing fresh insights and creative interpretive directions; and the extensive bibliographical information contained in the footnotes. Seminary students should appreciate Goldingay's elegant and eloquent modeling of how rigorous academic work can be done explicitly in the service of the church and its ministry. Ministers and Bible study leaders (along with some scholars and most seminary students) will appreciate Goldingay's helpful and faithful theological reflections. . . . The result is an engaging and instructive invitation to claim the Psalms as sources for understanding and practicing the church's worship, spirituality, and mission."--J. Clinton McCann Jr., Interpretation

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 816 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801031435
• ISBN-13: 978-0801031434
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be fooled by the other reviews, October 18, 2010

By 

C. M. Roeda "campuschapel" (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psalms: Psalms 90-150 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) (Hardcover)

You might get the impression from the other reviewers that this commentary is written for a Jewish more than a Christian audience. It isn't. But it respects the fact that the psalms themselves were-- at least initially. Obviously those who preserved the psalter weren't just waiting for the incarnation in order to make sense of them. This collection of songs and prayers had shaped the spiritual lives of God's people long before Mary had her firstborn. It's at least worth reflecting on what they might have meant to those readers.

What's more, that task is not distinct from a historical-redemptive reading of the psalms. Yes, we read the OT in light of the NT. But we can't fully understand the NT without reading it in light of the OT as well. My own traditon (Reformed) has regularly mistaken a 16th century framework for a NT perspective when looking at the Old Testament. Goldingay refuses to go that route.

But by no means does he treat the Psalms in isolation from the rest of Scripture. A simple glance at the Scripture Index demonstrates that that isn't the case. Nearly every NT book is referenced. Moreover, examination of each psalm concludes with a section entitled "theological implications." These are clearly written from the perspective of someone writing for the church.

These are great commentaries.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars goldingay's psalms - good, but not great, September 9, 2010

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Ryan Case "Ryan Case" (Lethbridge, AB, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psalms: Psalms 90-150 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) (Hardcover)

basically, i am in full agreement with shane's review already posted. as a pastor who loves to read theological commentaries, i often find myself frustrated w/ goldingay's works (i am also reading thru his monster 3-volume ot theology and have the same problems as with his 3-volume treatise on the psalms). i do love his own translation of the hebrew which is wonderfully literal. he is not afraid to challenge interpretations he disagrees with, but sometimes it seems like he is more afraid of liberals who may be reading his commentaries than evangelicals.

for those who have a good grasp of biblical theology (aka redemptive/salvation history), goldingay has some great nuggets to be gleaned. but often he leaves me wanting more, and sometimes just plain frustrated that he misses the big picture of the psalms, namely its purpose in pointing forward to the coming of Messiah (like the rest of Scripture, cf. luke 24:25-27, 44, etc.). i have been waiting for the ultimate commentary on the psalms, one that is meaty, deals w/ the hebrew syntax, and yet relates it organically to the rest of the Scriptures, esp. the NT. honestly, i still prefer gerald wilson's vol. 1 of the psalmes in nivac (one can only wish he finished vol. 2 before going home to see Jesus). i am eagerly awaiting allan ross' work on psalms, as many others are either too short (e.g kidner of van gemeren), or just plain liberal.

if you have alot of money, get the 3-volume set. but i still think they are a good 'along-side' commentary, and not the 'go-to' ones.

w/ all other books of the Bible, the best thing is simply to study them for oneself. longman's intro to interpreting the psalms is excellent, as well as wilson's short article in "biblical theology: retrospect & prospect", ed. by hafemann, or even waltke's section in his ot theology.

as an 'academic wannabe', goldingay is ok. as an evangelical preacher, he can sometimes be exasperating.

i hope this helps.
in Christ and for His supreme glory
pastor ryan case

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed by the Methodology/Interpretation, September 2, 2010

By 

Shane (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psalms: Psalms 90-150 (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms) (Hardcover)

(Note: this review is based on all three volumes of Goldingay's commentary on the psalms.)

Goldingay's three volume commentary on the psalms is a scholarly resource when it comes to studying the psalter. In these commentaries, he discusses the textual, syntactical, and structural details of each psalm, as well as the (probable) historical context. There is a short glossary at the end of each volume which is helpful if the reader needs a brief definition of key terms in the psalms. Goldingay has utilized many different medieval, reformation, and modern commentaries on the psalms which helps make this set useful in some regards. Those are the strong points.

I do, however, have two major critiques of this commentary set that have to do with Goldingay's interpretive methodology.

First, Goldingay does not read the psalms from a NT point of view. In other words, these commentaries are not redemptive-historical or biblical-theological in any sense of the term. In fact, in the introduction (to vol. 1) he explicitly states that he does not "make the NT the filter or lens" through which he reads the psalms. He says reading the psalms through the lens of the NT silences the psalms' theology and spirituality. Of course, some may agree with Goldingay's methodology here; I simply want to point it out in case the reader is looking for a commentary that deals with how the NT ties into the psalms. This commentary series does not do that at all; in fact, the scripture indexes at the end of each volume only have a few references to NT passages.

The second major critique I have of this commentary set ties in with the previous one: Goldingay does not read the psalms as messianic, eschatological, or forward looking. For example, commenting on psalm 8 he writes that the psalm "does not refer to the Messiah." In his notes on psalm 22, Goldingay says "it is not a prophecy. The Messiah is not the primary referent of this text. The NT `wrenches it out of its setting.'" For psalm 110 he suggests linking the psalm to Jesus is to "ignore its meaning." In other words, Goldingay does not approach the psalter like the apostles did.

For these two reasons, I believe this commentary series is not helpful. Goldingay's "un-messianic" methodology also shows up in his application sections. He basically moralizes the psalms away by applying them to our setting without mentioning the NT, Jesus, the cross, or the resurrection. Time and again as I was reading his comments on many different psalms I was utterly frustrated by bare textual notes and odd gospel-less application. Every application just felt flat to me. If you believe the psalms are messianic, eschatological, and if you believe the apostles interpreted the psalms correctly (with Jesus at the center), you will most likely be quite disappointed with this series. In summary, I don't recommend this commentary set because it has very little to do with Jesus.

By the way, if you are looking for a better discussion of the psalms that do center on Jesus, check out Richard Belcher's "The Messiah and the Psalms," Geerhardus Vos' article "The Eschatology of the Psalter," Tremper Longman's "How to Read the Psalms," Mark Futato's "Interpreting the Psalms," the "NT Commentary on the OT" edited by Don Carson and Greg Beale, and of course Calvin and Luther's sermons and commentaries on the psalms (just to mention a few).