Leslie C. Allen

Leslie Allen does a masterful job of exploring major themes of the Psalms. After a couple of introductory chapters which discuss the forms of Psalms (drawing on Mowinckel and Westermann), Brueggemann's helpful typology (Orientation, Disorientation, Re-Orientation) and the setting of Psalms (largely Temple worship, though Wisdom Psalms, and Torah Psalms enlarge the setting somewhat), Allen goes on to explore the themes of Praise, Faith, Blessing, Salvation, Eschatological Hope, and Scripture.

This is a helpful resource for orienting oneself to the world of the Psalms. A short monograph like this and there are Psalms which Allen does not discuss (albeit relatively few), but this is perhaps one of the best short treatments of the Psalter. And it is fairly accessible.… (more)