Teaching Psalms Vol. 2: From Text to Message

From Text to Message

by Christopher Ash

The Psalms can be sung, spoken or read - but they were written to be prayed. Until we pray them from the heart we miss their purpose. The two volumes of Teaching Psalms aim to get the reader's heart engaging with this beautiful book of the Bible. If you love, or want to love, or think perhaps you ought to love the Psalms, these volumes are for you.



Volume 1 acts as a handbook:

- How to pray the Psalms

- How to teach the Psalms

- The difficulties we face in the Psalms

- Integrating the Psalms into the Bible story



Volume 2 picks up on the groundwork laid and begins with an overview of the structure of the Psalter. It then goes through the book of Psalms, giving an introduction to each one. It does not seek to compete with a commentary in that it does not approach each verse individually; however it offers what few commentaries attempt - a careful look at the message behind the book as a whole.

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2018

About the author

Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.

Reviews

[Sarah Tummey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The songwriter Matt Redman said his favourite book on the Psalms was Charles Spurgeon's "The Treasury of David". I've had a look at it, but find some of the language heavy-going.

My favourite book on the Psalms is this one. Volume 1 is an overview of all 150 Psalms and how to approach them from a Christian perspective, but this book goes through each Psalm individually. If you're reading a Psalm every day, it's great to read these notes from Christopher Ash at the same time. I've certainly learnt from it.

[Michael Abraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't so much a commentary on the Psalms, but more so a summary of each Psalm. The overview to the structure of the Psalter was the most helpful bit. His summary and background on each book was important as I preached a couple Psalms this summer. He argues that we should view each Psalm as if Jesus were leading the prayer/song. Thus his approach to preaching Christ from each Psalm is predictable and repetitive.

[Patrick Couch · Rating 5 out of 5]

150 psalms. I have tried to read them consistently using the “5 psalms a day” method, but until I came across Christopher Ash’s books on the Psalms, it was a struggle. Now, having read the psalter, a psalm a day with Ash, I really enjoy the psalms. Of course, “enjoy” is a troublesome word because the Psalms speak to the heart. And Ash makes this clear.
Thank you, Christopher.