The Message of Psalms 1–72: Songs for the People of God

by Michael Wilcock

The book of Psalms is a favorite of Christians, even though we frequently read it in portions and pieces, hopscotching through the familiar and avoiding the odd, the unpleasant and the difficult. But though the individual psalms arose from an assortment of times, experiences and settings, the book is composed in a deliberate pattern, not as a random anthology. The meaning of the Psalms is discovered in this pattern and order. Michael Wilcock has written a sort of travel guide to the Psalms. In this volume, he invites us to begin our journey through the gateway of Psalms 1 and 2, with their summons to obedience. In the second volume, The Message of Psalms 73--150, he ends with Psalm 150, singing its song of praise. In between we pass through all the "yes, buts" of faith--the conflicts, the burdens, the mysteries and the sufferings of life. In these laments and praises, hymns and liturgies, the Bible continues to speak clearly today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Reference, Biblical Studies

255 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2001

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Delightful and Pastoral”. These are the words you will be thinking when you finish “The Message of Psalms 1-72” by Michael Wilcock, as it is one of the most well written books on the Psalms that I have had the privilege of reading. This book is parts of the ever-growing series called “The Bible Speaks Today”, produced by IVP Academic.  “The Bible Speaks Today” is a thoroughly Evangelical series which serves as an introduction as well as practicality explaining the book of Psalms through a thoroughly Evangelical perspective.

In the introduction, with regard to the dating of Psalms, Wilcock argues well for an early date while, briefly, against critical arguments for older dating. His arguments systematically destroy any critical arguments that have been put forth to this time. His arguments are up today and even focus on the most critical and modern viewpoints, even ones that have just recently been published.

Wilcock is a excellent exegete specifically and when it comes to the Pentateuch, it shines in this volume.  Wilcock makes sure that the reader is getting an important look into the culture of the day and its influence on the text. Through this process Wilcock brings about conclusions which are gold for any pastor preaching exegetically through the book of Psalms.

Through exegeting the first 72 Psalms, Wilcock demonstrates why he is a great Old Testament scholar of the modern age, which makes this introduction to the book of Psalms 1-72 a must-read by pastors preaching or Layman teaching through first 72 Psalms either in the Pulpit or in the Sunday School room. I highly recommend this volume as an aid in either of these circumstances.

This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly got this one read in 2024 but not quite. I probably should have read it before volume 2, which I think I enjoyed more, but still liked this as a companion through the first half of the Bible’s song book. Slowing down the pace for these is good for me – some recommend reading 5 a day from each 30 (Psalms in month) or the like, but I have done this before and enjoyed instead being able to contemplate the phrases, structures and broader linkages that are present in most of the psalms. And appreciate that there are some lines which are quite obscure and their meaning largely lost to time. Unlike the latter half of the book of psalms, these don’t seem to be sitting together with liturgical purposes in mind, rather have the appearance of an anthology of King David’s compositions (although some arrangement of the order of these is likely present and they are not all his compositions either). As is probably the case for the whole of this series, there is likely far deeper analysis of these books than BST, but it is a good step up from most from a lot of the lighter stuff around and points in the right direction for deeper discussion.