Nancy Acclaisse-Walford Psalms Summary

Introduction

The book of psalms is the source of solace and guidance for many Christians and even non-Christian across the globe. For over generations they have turned to it seeking God's help from either sickness, depression, loss, or even guidance and many more. It is here that they’ve experience “the God who sustains, the God of Royal pedigree and the God of the poor and needy, the God of judgement and the God of healing.”

Although we read them communally in our church services or individually there is little concern on their structure or historical background. Nancy deClaisse-Walford’s book Introduction to the Psalms gives us a good picture of the psalms and its structure. It does an excellent view of the Hebrew Psalter as it takes the reader on a journey through the Hebrew Psalter with a history of its development over a period of two thousand years. The author’s desire is “to provide the reader with a solid introduction to the Hebrew Psalter, and one that is informed by an interest in its shape and shaping.”

Born in 1954, Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford is an American theologian with specialisation in the Hebrew language and Biblical studies. She is the Old Testament Editor for the Word Biblical Commentary Series as well as an

It also entails other actors, Korahites and Asaphite. Of all the psalms in the book two 65% are lament psalms, and 58% are attributed to King David. David’s kingship end and Solomon’s reign start. Book Three (Ps. 73-89) recounts the events the two divided kingdoms of ancient Israel experienced- “the subsequent obliteration of the northern kingdom in 722 by the Assyrians, and, finally, the destruction of the southern kingdom by the Babylonians in 586.” It is dominated by hymns and laments, and specifically the psalms of Asaph, the Korahites, and other singers and musician. Israel’s broken covenant with David leads to the end of the Davidic