The Psalms as Christian Lament

A Historical Commentary

Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K.

© 2014 Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore

All rights reserved

Published 2014 by

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /

P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Waltke, Bruce K.

The Psalms as Christian lament: a historical commentary / Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8028-6809-1 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Bible. Psalms—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Laments in the Bible.

I. Title.

BS1445.L3W35 2014

223′.206—dc23

2013048119

www.eerdmans.com

Contents

Prologue

1. The Psalms as the Christian’s Lament

I. The Importance of Lament in the Psalter

II. The Loss and Gain of Lament in Our Western Society

III. Lament in a Post-Critical Culture

IV. Biblical Causes for Lament

V. The Old Testament Context for Lament

VI. The Penitential Psalms

2. Psalm 5: A Royal Petition for Protection from Malicious Liars

Part I. Voice of the Church

I. Introduction

II. Lament of the Scholar Monk, Jerome

III. Jerome’s Interpretation of Psalm 5

IV. The Continuing Influence of Jerome

Part II. Voice of the Psalmist: Translation

Part III. Commentary

I. Introduction

II. Exegesis

Part IV. Conclusion

3. Psalm 6: Pursuit of Moral Excellence

Part I. Voice of the Church

I. Gregory of Nyssa

II. The Anagogy of “the Eighth Day”

III. The Pursuit of Excellence

IV. Gregory’s Interpretation of Psalm 6

V. Conclusion

Part II. Voice of the Psalmist: Translation A Royal Petition for Vindication by Salvation from Death

Part III. Commentary

I. Introduction

II. Exegesis

Part IV. Conclusion

4. Psalm 7: A Royal Petition for Cosmic Justice

Part I. Voice of the Church

I. Introduction

II. The Words of Cush the Benjamite

III. Literary and Contemporary Assassinations of David

IV. The Exemplary Pastoral Theology of John Chrysostom

V. Chrysostom’s Commentary on Psalm 7

VI. Charlemagne (c. 742–812)

VII. Alcuin (735–804)

VIII. Alfred the Great (c. 849–899)

Part II. Voice of the Psalmist: Translation

Part III. Commentary

I. Introduction

II. Exegesis

Part IV. Conclusion

5. Psalm 32: Forgiveness for the Justified

Part I. Voice of the Church

I. Introduction

II. Augustine’s Hermeneutic of Divine Grace

III. The Augustinian “Paul” in Psalm 32

IV. Augustine’s Exposition of Psalm 32

Part II. Voice of the Psalmist: Translation

Part III. Commentary

I. Introduction

II. Exegesis

Part IV. Conclusion

I. Doctrine of Sin

II. Doctrine of Punishment

III. Doctrine of Forgiveness

IV. Doctrine of Double Agency

6. Psalm 38: The Dance between Deserved and Undeserved Suffering

Part I. Voice of the Church

I. Introduction

II. Ambrose as a Mystagogical Interpreter

III. Augustine (354–430) as Interpreter of the “Whole Christ”...