As mentioned in the last post, I intend to comment on the resources I use each time I prepare to teach or preach a Psalm. Recently I taught Psalm 91 in an adult Sunday School class.<\/p>\n
Eric Lane\u2019s Psalms 90-150: The Lord Reigns<\/a><\/em> (Christian Focus, 2006) was a bit new to me so I tried it out. Sadly it was not helpful, being thin in discussion and idiosyncratic. I had also recently received a copy of the new NICOT volume on the Psalms written by deClaiss\u00e9, Jacobson, and Tanner<\/a>. This volume, also, was disappointing. The exposition covered only two pages (disappointing in such a series) and in that space dealt too much with little details. If that is all the space you have you need to have a narrow focus and nail that well. Not so here. In the closing section the author stated: \u201cIt is up to the one hearing these words to decide how these words can serve as a bridge from what came before, to decide what and how things have changed\u201d (701). I may have misunderstood, but this sounded like saying that it is up to the reader to figure out the meaning in the end.<\/p>\n I have previously expressed disappointment with the Hermeneia commentary on the Psalms written by Hossfeld and Zenger<\/a> (2 volumes so far with the third expected). It is very technical and critical, but the more I\u2019ve used it I have changed my opinion. This is often the first place I go now when needing information on background or on a specific word. Also, perhaps its chief value, is the separate section in the commentary on each psalm for how it is used in the New Testament. I have seen nothing else like this for its comprehensiveness and detail. Theologically we are quite different but just having the info on NT usage, including allusion, is so helpful.<\/p>\n