An excellent introduction to the study of the Psalms
Any student or interested non-specialist will find here a useful summary of the main research questions in the area of Hebrew poetry, not only as found in the Book of Psalms, but also scattered in the historical and prophetic writings (in the categories of the Hebrew scripture, the former and the latter prophets), as well as the wisdom writings. There are useful summaries of the main positions in the history of discussion. Gillingham usefully distinguishes between three questions — the life-setting, the liturgical-setting, and the literary-setting of each psalm — and constantly reminds the reader of the difference each makes for questions of interpretation. She is realistic in her assessment of the limits to our knowledge of the exact poetic techniques used by the psalmists.
One feature that sets this book apart from others that I have read on the Psalms is her recourse to the general phenomena of music and poetry and their reception in approaching the Psalms. I was especially struck by her application of T.S. Eliot’s distinction between understanding and appreciation. She doesn’t belabor the point, although the carry-over for our ways of “doing” theology and “doing” church are self-evident: Eliot’s warnings of the dangers of emphasizing one or the other, leading either to a descent from understanding to mere explanation or from enjoyment to mere amusement are no less true in religion than in the arts. Gillingham writes: “to understand Hebrew poetry at all, we have to participate imaginatively in its performative power.” Reading this book is a good stepping-stone to doing so. ( )