The Vitality of Worship: a Commentary on the Book of Psalms

For centuries the Psalms have been central to Jewish and Christian tradition and spirituality. In them can be found echoes of the whole range of human experience and need, from praise to protest, from ringing certainty to unanswered questions, from quiet confidence to the dark night of the soul. This commentary by Robert Davidson shows how a contemporary critical approach to the Psalms can throw light not only on their meaning in their original context in the life of ancient Israel, but on their continuing relevance for worship today. Taking primarily a theological approach to the Psalms, Davidson shows how the vitality and richness of the Psalms-a richness that reflects our own life experiences today-can be significantly more helpful to our private spiritual lives and our public worship than many of the hymnbooks currently being used. In drawing on contemporary worship sources, both Jewish and Christian, this commentary will appeal as much to general readers and worship leaders as to scholars, students, and pastors.