The Book of Psalms represents a rich tapestry of prayer and praise. Some reflect a texture of deep despair, others glow with a deep peace in the Lord's strength, still others bubble with an exuberant exaltation in the Most High God, reaching out to God from every imaginable experience. In this study you will enter into the experience of the Psalms. You will study thoughtfully. But more than that, you will learn how to pray, how to find peace in the midst of turmoil, to be thankful. You will begin to follow the pattern of the psalmists as you begin to praise. Twelve detailed lessons, each with probing discussion questions, can be used for personal enrichment, as a study by small groups and classes, and for preparation by teachers and preachers.

Ever wish someone could give you a big handle on the entire Bible without years of study? Well, this book not only promises to give you that big handle—it will deliver on the promise. You should be asking, how is this possible? The Bible is one story told over and over again, with many variations on the same theme. This structure is the Bible’s DNA. This basic seven-point pattern is the heartbeat of the Creation. It is the cycle of a human day and a human life. It is the pattern of the Tabernacle. It is the process of agriculture. It undergirds the speeches and Laws of God. It orders the rise and fall of nations and empires. It is also the structure of our worship. It is the rhythm of Christ, and it will open the Bible for you like never before.

Codes hidden for 3,000 years unveil the origin of the fifteen Songs of Ascents. Mysterious marks in medieval manuscripts disclose the lost temple song. Rabbinic traditions reveal the place of the ark of the covenant. And the secret message of the Book of Psalms is laid bare. David Mitchell's Songs of Ascents is a fresh direction in the study of the Psalms. Professor John Barton, Oriel College, Oxford. The Songs of Ascents establishes a long-overdue link between the worlds of Biblical Studies and Near Eastern Archaeomusicology. Mitchell addresses the issue with great competence and meticulousness, and depicts a credible picture of how the psalms would have been sung in ancient Jerusalem. Professor Richard Dumbrill, University of London. David Mitchell takes just one collection of fifteen psalms to create a scholarly and engaging account which brings together, in an original but careful way, the disciplines of the Hebrew language, psalmody, and music. For anyone interested in how the psalms functioned as ancient Temple Songs, and how this might apply to our appreciation of them in synagogues and churches today, this book is an absolute gem." Professor Susan Gillingham, Worcester College, Oxford.

What's really going on in the Psalms? Is it just an anthology of old Israelite songs? Or is there more to it than anyone ever guessed? This evergreen classic is the book that first proposed, in 1997, a messianic metanarrative in the Psalms. It explains how someone arranged the Psalms to outline a program of future events like in Zechariah 9-14. There is an appendix of apocalyptic midrashim, translated into English for the first time. A bridegroom-Messiah gathers exiled Israel. He sets up a kingdom, but dies a violent death. Israel are scattered in the wilderness of the nations. Then they are gathered again in troublous times. Finally, they are rescued by a king from the heavens. He sets his throne on Zion and receives the homage of the nations. 160,000 words. Read all about it!