Psalms 1-50 - Concordia Commentary

In this Volume

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Here begins Saleska’s commentary on the first fifty Psalms. Turning to the text first, Saleska identifies God as “Poietes”, the Greek word for both creator and poet. This reality of God as the Creator-Poet, literally the Word incarnate, frames Saleska’s historic approach to the Psalms both as the Word of God given to his people and as words which His people speak back to Him. Saleska’s faithful, philological approach focuses especially on unpacking the emotional language of the Psalms, for the sake of understanding the activity of the Word in each.

Features

• Narrative structure of commentary makes easy reference for preaching and teaching
• Pastoral resources for instruction on Impreccatory and Lamentation Psalms
• Emphasis on formal poetic properties such as parataxis as well as their Hebraic context
• Materials on the Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Psalms
• A reference guide to the texts and versions of the Psalms

Additional Essays

• Why do Humans Write Poetry? And Why is Poetry in the Bible?
• How to Read Poetry and Enjoy the Experience
• Why I Stopped Arguing with My Own Translation (It’s an Argument That Never Ends)
• The Psalms in Modern Scholarship

About the Author

Dr. Timothy E. Saleska is professor of Exegetical Theology and dean of Ministerial Formation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary (1982). He also holds an Associate of Arts (A.A.) from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kan. (1976); a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich. (now Concordia University, Ann Arbor) (1978); and a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Ohio (1992, 1999).

Endorsments

“What an amazing commentary! For Christians who want not only to study the most sophisticated contemporary scholarship on the psalms but also to pray them, I can recommend no commentary more highly. Clearly a labor of love from Saleska, the volume includes a first rate, readable and comprehensive introduction followed by individual psalm commentaries brimming with theological gems.”

–Dr. Brian Brock, Professor of Moral and Practical Theology, Department of Divinity and Religious Studies, King’s College, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

“In this commentary Timothy Saleska brings together the questions and research of modern scholars with the theological traditions of the Church and skillfully sifts them with exegetical sensitivity. The result is a tremendously helpful commentary that opens the message of the Psalms, especially as Christians have for centuries read them, as a witness to God’s work in Jesus Christ. Technically sound, theologically insightful, and eminently accessible, this commentary will be especially useful to pastors and teachers who wish to expound on the treasury that is the Psalter.”

–Jerome F. D. Creach, Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

“I am privileged to recommend both this commentary and the commentator, Tim Saleska, for the two are inextricably intertwined. The commentary is a detailed and clear exposition of the Hebrew text of the Psalms. The commentator brings to his work the insight of a brilliant scholar, the sensitivity of a caring pastor, and the humility of a loving servant of the Lord.”

–Lee M. Fields, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Biblical Studies, Mid-Atlantic Christian University

About the series

The Concordia Commentary Series: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture is written to enable pastors and teachers of the Word to proclaim the Gospel with greater insight, clarity, and faithfulness to the divine intent of the Biblical text.

The series will cover all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, with an original translation and meticulous grammatical analysis of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek of each text. The foremost interpretive lens centers on the unified proclamation of the person and work of Christ across every Scriptural book.

The Commentary fully affirms the divine inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture; Each passage bears witness to the confession that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ His Son.

Authors expose the rich treasury of language, imagery, and thematic content of the Scripture, while supplementing their work with additional research in archaeology, history, and extrabiblical literature. Throughout, God’s Word emanates from authors careful attention and inculcates the ongoing life of the Church in Word, Sacrament, and daily confession.

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