THE NIV Application Commentary: Psalms Volume 1

by Gerald H. Wilson

Part of the NIV Application Commentary Series from Zondervan.

Genres: Reference, Christian, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Old Testament

1024 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2002

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so thorough about ancient sources, very even handed, and really good about providing a way for insights into modern life via ancient text.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I absolutely loved Gerald Wilson’s commentary on the Psalms. His knowledge of the nuances of the Hebrew language opened up my understanding of a covenant-keeping God, a theme I’ve always delighted in.

For example, in Psalm 4, there is the phrase “The Lord has set apart the godly for Himself.” He explains that the word “godly” is “Hasid,” which is closely linked to the word “Hesed” (God’s unfailing love). Hence, a godly person is one who practices hesed (i.e., is one who fulfills the obligations of a covenantal relationship.)

In Psalm 25, he continues to link key Hebrew phrases with the idea of covenant. The “fear of the Lord” is intricately connected to intimate relationship with the Holy One. “Those who fear Yahweh receive His guidance and walk in communion with Him…. Fear of Yahweh is an attitude that acknowledges one’s absolute dependence on Yahweh for mercy, forgiveness and continued existence.”

This is volume one (of two) and only goes up to Chapter 72. It’s emphasis on application was a two-edged sword because although Wilson often did a masterful job of bringing these Old Testament themes to bear on modern-day life, he sometimes used modern examples that showed his political leanings, which I felt was inappropriate for a Bible commentary.

[Jon Anderson]

Read for preaching on Psalms 1-10 in summer 2021. As the title of the series states, this is about application and that is best use for this commentary. The explanation sections are standard stuff but the bridging between original and current contexts and application sections are the helpful parts of this

[Joel Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great survey of the Psalms! Wilson invites the readers to discover the structure of Hebrew poetry and then individually explores the poetry of each Psalm in a way that illumines the text and also encourages those who love the Psalms to find ways to apply the psalms to their lives. He truly accomplishes the goal of the series as it seeks to explore the original use of the text, how the text connects to Biblical/theological themes, and how the text connects to how the contemporary Christian lives their lives.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Psalms, is an Old Testament commentary, written by Gerald H. Wilson published by Zondervan Academic. This commentary is one of the finest volumes in the NIV Application Commentary Series , a series which is synonymous with superior exegesis and excellent application, this volume continues this legacy. This volume is one of the most articulate and practical modern commentaries on the book of Psalms. While Wilson is no stranger to Biblical commentaries this is his first foray into this renowned commentary series.

This commentary sits at the top of most pastor’s commentary list for this book of wisdom literature. Not only is this book touted as one of the best volumes in the series it is one of the best volumes on the book of Psalms ever to be published. The first 72 Psalms are thoroughly treated looking not only at the Hebrew text but dealing with critical questions, exegetical points, and practical application. This commentary truly is for both the pastor and Scholar. Furthermore it is not an accessible to the Layman who desires to get a thorough treatment of Psalms for their understanding.

I highly recommend this commentary as the first pick of any Pastor for a series on the book of Psalms as well as to the scholar who is looking to write a paper on a specific theme or Psalm. You can truly not go wrong with this superb commentary on Psalms 1-72.
This book was provided to me free of charge from Zondervan Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

[Matt Candler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful work by Gerald Wilson, a pioneer of seeing and reading the psalms as a unified whole. I recommend this as a primary "go-to" commentary in your library, but like all commentaries, their perspective is limited and I now see a handful of things different concerning the compilational history of the Psalter and redactional grounds. Nevertheless, a great resource.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent exegetical and expositional commentary on the first half of the book of Psalms.