Posted March 10, 2005 Book: Psalms and Liturgy Edited by Dirk J. Human and Cas J.A.Vos T & T Clark International, New York, pp. 303 An Excerpt from the Preface: On the 21st and 22nd of August 2003, a symposium took place at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Theology to discuss the theme of ‘Psalms and Liturgy’. We were delighted that various highly-regarded researchers and experts in the fields of Psalms and Liturgy, participated in this symposium.. This book is a result of the symposium. This book has been woven together by many different threads. There are the threads which represent various theological and religious traditions and which lend the book a particular color and texture. At the same time, another tapestry has been created with the inclusion of a variety of theological analyses, which ultimately enrich the content. This book examines the manner in which the psalm tests are woven together. This fine network is approached with curiosity, then delicately unravelled. Attention is given to how the colors of the various environments and worlds are imprinted upon the psalm texts. Also examined with curiosity, is how the threads weave different psalms together. The Christian ‘voice’ of the religious and theological tradition is listened to intently, while the richness of the psalms is unveiled. The influence and the power of psalms in the religious tradition has recently been re-discovered. It is being acknowledged that religious traditions originate from the saturated roots of Israel. Hence, the liturgical fervor with which attempts are being made to bring psalms alive again and help them become relevant in the church. In this book, particular attention is also given to the liturgical impact of the psalms. The question of how the psalms fit in and how they can be experienced in a post-modern, religious congregation, is both raised and answered in this book. Finnally, the book seeks to affirm that the ‘voice’ of the psalms once again rings clear in the context of worship. Should the reader wish to harvest the rich fields of the psalms, he or she will return jubilatn and with an abundance of sheaves to take home. An Excerpt from the Book: Von Rad depicted the psalms as Israel’s answer. An answer to the two great interventions of Yahweh in Israel’s history. The first was the canonical salvation history (from Abraham to Joshua) described in the Hexateuch. The second was the confirmation of David and his throne forall times which found literary expression in the historical works of the Deuteronomist and the Chronicler. These interventions shaped Israel into Yahweh’s people and laid the foundation for the constant experience of Yahweh’s presence. Israel’s very personal reaction to these great interventions is expressed especially in the psalms. They did not only often recall these events but also viewed them as the basis for their relationship with Yahweh. In their answer they praised Him but also complained about their suffering. Their reaction also showed how Israel interpreted these great deeds of God and how they were affected by them. Table of Contents: Waiting for meaning – psalms in cult and culture Marcel Barnard Psalter and Messiah, towards a Christological understanding of the psalms in the Old Testament and the Church Fathers Georg P. Braulik Words with teeth and childbearing men: metaphors in psalm 7 Brian Doyle Cult-critical motif in psalm 69.32 — does it portray an anti-cultic stance? Alphonso Groenewald Psalm 136: A liturgy with reference to creation and history Dirk J. Human Worship and theology in the psalms Jorg Jeremias Revisiting the psalm headings: Second temple Levitical propaganda? Louis C. Jonker Augustine, Gadamer and the psalms or: the psalms as the answer to a question Jurie H. le Roux The Judean legitimation of royal rulers in its ancient near eastern contexts Eckart Otto Paschal liturgy and psalmody in Jerusalem 380-384 CE: some observations an implications Niek A. Schuman Psalm 32 – Structure, genre, intent and liturgical use Stephanus D. Snyman Traces of liturgies in the psalter: The communal laments, psalms 79, 80, 83, 89 in context Hans Ulrich Steymans Spatiality in Psalm 29 Pieter M. Venter Theopoetical and liturgical patterns of the psalms with reference to psalm 19 Cas J. A. Vos