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God's Word for You
Psalms For You: How to Pray, How to Feel, and How to Sing
Enjoy reading and applying different types of psalms, and seeing Jesus in every one.
Christopher Ash shows us how to read and apply the book of Psalms. He takes us through 15 pairs of psalms that represent various “types”, including some that are very familiar and some that are often ignored.
He helps us to see how they are fulfilled by Jesus and therefore point to Jesus first and foremost, transforming how we read them, enjoy them, and sing them.
Christopher Ash comments that this understanding of the Psalms “can shape the dynamics of our Christian lives in ways that neither a dry and arid intellectualism nor a rootless emotionalism can do. The Psalms can make us Christians with deep feelings, deep emotions, deep thoughts, and deep desires.”
Christopher Ash shows us how to read and apply the book of Psalms. He takes us through 15 pairs of psalms that represent various “types”, including some that are very familiar and some that are often ignored.
He helps us to see how they are fulfilled by Jesus and therefore point to Jesus first and foremost, transforming how we read them, enjoy them, and sing them.
Christopher Ash comments that this understanding of the Psalms “can shape the dynamics of our Christian lives in ways that neither a dry and arid intellectualism nor a rootless emotionalism can do. The Psalms can make us Christians with deep feelings, deep emotions, deep thoughts, and deep desires.”
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 2, 2020
159 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Ash
54 books81 followersChristopher 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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 24, 2021
This is my second book in this series and I love the format of this series. In Psalms for You, Ash selects 30 Psalms to delve into. I appreciate that he chooses a wide range of Psalms, including some very familiar and "beloved" Psalms and also those "harder to grasp" Psalms that are often ignored in sermon series (some that I am still grappling with).
Here's what the author does well; he looks at the Psalms first in their historical context, examining their original meaning, then he shows us the Psalm and how it points to/relates to Jesus and then finally what that Psalm means for us today (in light of the 2 previous contexts). All too often we are inclined to jump to personal application (and maybe espeically so with the Psalms), so this is a right and thorough approach that gives the reader more depth of understanding.
At the end of each chapter there are questions for reflection which are helpful and would be good to discuss if you were reading along with someone.
Here's what the author does well; he looks at the Psalms first in their historical context, examining their original meaning, then he shows us the Psalm and how it points to/relates to Jesus and then finally what that Psalm means for us today (in light of the 2 previous contexts). All too often we are inclined to jump to personal application (and maybe espeically so with the Psalms), so this is a right and thorough approach that gives the reader more depth of understanding.
At the end of each chapter there are questions for reflection which are helpful and would be good to discuss if you were reading along with someone.
March 31, 2020
This is a great commentary! Many churches seem to neglect the Psalms, only preaching them as fill-in sermons or as a call to worship, but the Psalms is a treasure chest of praise, real life struggles, questions and a declaration of confidence in our God who is Good, Faithful and Loving. Ash has years of preaching experience and it all comes out in this book. In 264 pages (not including the glossary and appendix) Ash opens up a number of the Psalms and takes you through them verse by verse. Obviously he could not do all 150 of the Psalms because the book would be significantly bigger than it is. This book would serve every Christian well, it is not a complicated or technical commentary, it manages the balance between information, explanation and application very well. So if you want to dive into the Psalms more, or if you’re leading a small group study on the Psalms or if you want to preach from the Psalms in the future, this book will be a huge help to you.
May 9, 2023
I read this book with my church’s women’s study, and I was encouraged by how much it points to Christ in the Psalms.
April 28, 2020
As I write this, the state of California is in a state of mandatory social distancing due to COVID-19. I miss singing with my church. And in these troubling times, the Psalms have been a great comfort. In Psalms For You, Christopher Ash helps us see their meaning, and shows how they transform our hearts and lives for today.
About the Author
Ash has written more fully about the Psalms in his two-volume work, Teaching Psalms. His knowledge is clearly on display in this book, as he is able to distill timeless truths in an approachable and devotional way.
In 16 chapters and less than 300 pages, over 30 Psalms are examined and explained. Ash doesn’t miss the majors, like Psalm 1, Psalm 23, and Psalm 95. But he also touches on some Psalms I was less familiar with, such as Psalm 57 and Psalm 73.
Grasp the Text
Questions for reflection are included after every chapter. A glossary at the back of the book defines key terms like common grace, covenant curse, and Kingdom of God. A bibliography is included as well as a helpful appendix that shows where Psalms appear in the New Testament.
In all of the Psalms that are covered, Ash succinctly helps us grasp the text and wrestle with its implications. He makes it clear who is speaking, takes us to the old-covenant times, asks what it meant for Jesus, and what it now means for us in Christ.
Jesus Songs
Ash’s ability to help me see what the Psalms meant for Jesus was outstanding. It helped me see how Jesus could sing these Psalms and really mean it. It’s amazing to think that when we sing songs with these lyrics, they are the same words that our Lord used to worship.
In many ways, I forgot that many of the Psalms are words of comfort and encouragement for troubling times. I am so thankful that God gave us these songs to sing. When our souls are cast down, we can hope and praise. The church will courageously continue to sing and worship.
I received a media copy of Psalms for You and this is my honest review.
About the Author
Ash has written more fully about the Psalms in his two-volume work, Teaching Psalms. His knowledge is clearly on display in this book, as he is able to distill timeless truths in an approachable and devotional way.
In 16 chapters and less than 300 pages, over 30 Psalms are examined and explained. Ash doesn’t miss the majors, like Psalm 1, Psalm 23, and Psalm 95. But he also touches on some Psalms I was less familiar with, such as Psalm 57 and Psalm 73.
Grasp the Text
Questions for reflection are included after every chapter. A glossary at the back of the book defines key terms like common grace, covenant curse, and Kingdom of God. A bibliography is included as well as a helpful appendix that shows where Psalms appear in the New Testament.
In all of the Psalms that are covered, Ash succinctly helps us grasp the text and wrestle with its implications. He makes it clear who is speaking, takes us to the old-covenant times, asks what it meant for Jesus, and what it now means for us in Christ.
Jesus Songs
Ash’s ability to help me see what the Psalms meant for Jesus was outstanding. It helped me see how Jesus could sing these Psalms and really mean it. It’s amazing to think that when we sing songs with these lyrics, they are the same words that our Lord used to worship.
In many ways, I forgot that many of the Psalms are words of comfort and encouragement for troubling times. I am so thankful that God gave us these songs to sing. When our souls are cast down, we can hope and praise. The church will courageously continue to sing and worship.
I received a media copy of Psalms for You and this is my honest review.
October 1, 2022
I have really loved this commentary on selected numbers of the psalms! It does such a good job of keeping them in perspective of Christ and his coming while also highlighting the rich imagery of each in their Old Testament context. May favorites were psalm 1,2,4472,84,109,110, and 128. This book has greatly enriched my own understanding of the psalms and aided my devotional time in the mornings. Would recommend this to anyone seeking greater understanding of the psalms!
January 12, 2025
Great, helpful book!
This book helped me view the Psalms from a different perspective than I have ever had. I’ve gained new knowledge and new appreciation for Psalms as a whole, and for many individual psalms that I now treasure.
This book helped me view the Psalms from a different perspective than I have ever had. I’ve gained new knowledge and new appreciation for Psalms as a whole, and for many individual psalms that I now treasure.
November 19, 2020
For what this is, it is great!
January 12, 2023
An Invitation to Join Choir
Jesus our King and Worship Leader invites us to join the choir in glad praise of worshiping our creator in forever joy.
Jesus our King and Worship Leader invites us to join the choir in glad praise of worshiping our creator in forever joy.
March 6, 2024
A really useful commentary which I studied while preparing for our Bible studies in Psalms.
October 9, 2024
In places, very helpful and encouraging. In others, a little bland. Overall, a great devotional companion as you read through the Psalter.
March 27, 2020
This has been such an encouragement to me! How to feel, pray & sing the Psalms. I especially have been blessed by seeing how they point to Jesus & how Jesus sang them! Another superb addition to this series of devotional commentaries.
June 23, 2020
A great resource for Psalms. Written for the average church-goer and filled to the brim with rich theological truths. I love the "For You" series from The Good Book Company!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews