The weather is all around us all the time. From ancient times people have attributed the weather to the work of the gods. Ancient Israel shared this perception. The book of Psalms reflects theologically significant views on the weather that have not, until now, been fully explored. In this meteorological survey of the Psalms, whimsically called "meteorotheology," every reference to the weather is translated in accordance with the known climate and weather of ancient Israel. Each verse is discussed with particular attention to the function of the weather in the hymnal of ancient Israel. This book will be a resource for translators, clergy, and scholars with an interest in how the weather impacted religious outlooks in ancient Israel. Readers will learn that some expected associations, such as thunder and lightning, did not influence Israelite views on the natural world in the same way that they do today. Yahweh was God of the weather, and the Psalms frequently use this paradigm as a reason for both praise and fear of the Lord.

The weather is all around us all the time. From ancient times people have attributed the weather to the work of the gods. Ancient Israel shared this perception. The book of Psalms reflects theologically significant views on the weather that have not, until now, been fully explored. In this meteorological survey of the Psalms, whimsically called ""meteorotheology,"" every reference to the weather is translated in accordance with the known climate and weather of ancient Israel. Each verse is discussed with particular attention to the function of the weather in the hymnal of ancient Israel. This book will be a resource for translators, clergy, and scholars with an interest in how the weather impacted religious outlooks in ancient Israel. Readers will learn that some expected associations, such as thunder and lightning, did not influence Israelite views on the natural world in the same way that they do today. Yahweh was God of the weather, and the Psalms frequently use this paradigm as a reason for both praise and fear of the Lord. ""Steve Wiggins explores the nuances and subtleties of weather-related terms by applying meteorologically correct terminology to weather-related references in the psalms. He aptly demonstrates a theological understanding of how the weather was perceived by the psalmists and used in their texts. This well-organized monograph will be useful to students of Hebrew Scripture and those who regularly use the psalms in worship."" --Joseph A. Kucharski, Professor of Church Music, Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary, Nashotah, WI ""This immensely readable volume discusses climate in an ancient context, recognizing that in a prescientific Israel, 'always, in some way, (the weather) is indicative of Yahweh's relationship with humanity.' Every possible instance of a meteorological allusion in the psalms is considered, and with his usual caution and fine analytical skills, Wiggins carefully distinguishes in this important contribution to psalms scholarship, between the certain, the probable, and the dubious, and shows how the cosmic battle ('Chaoskampf') often lurks suggestively in the background, emphasizing Yahweh's victorious power."" --Nick Wyatt, Professor Emeritus, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ""Wiggins is a first-rate scholar and editor. In this long-awaited book, he offers an indispensable survey of weather imagery in the Psalter that covers everything from translation issues to palaeoclimatology to what he calls 'meteorotheology'--the theological understanding of the weather by the ancients. Throughout, Wiggins proves a central point: '[t]o understand the weather is somehow to glimpse the divine.' This is a treasure trove of a book (the bibliography alone is worth the price), underscoring the never-ending complexity of the Bible, and the countless ways it moves from its ancient contexts to the present-day scientific world. I will consult it often."" --Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University, Atlanta, GA Steve A. Wiggins is an independent scholar, and former Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin. He is the author of A Reassessment of Asherah (1993 and 2007).

An indispensable resource for students and scholars, The Oxford Handbook of the Psalms features a diverse array of essays that treat the Psalms from a variety of perspectives. Classical scholarship and approaches as well as contextual interpretations and practices are well represented. The coverage is uniquely wide ranging.

Enjoy reading and applying different types of psalms, and seeing Jesus in every one. Christopher Ash shows us how to read and apply the book of Psalms. He takes us through 15 pairs of psalms that represent various €˜types’-including some that are very familiar and some that are often ignored. He helps us to see how they are fulfilled by Jesus and therefore point to Jesus first and foremost, transforming how we read them, enjoy them and sing them. Christopher Ash comments that this understanding of the Psalms "can shape the dynamics of our Christian lives in ways that neither a dry and arid intellectualism nor a rootless emotionalism can do. The Psalms can make us Christians with deep feelings, deep emotions, deep thoughts, and deep desires."

What, exactly, makes us afraid? Is it monsters, gore, the unknown? Perhaps it's a biblical sense of malice, lurking unnoticed in the corners of horror films. Holy Writ attempts to ward off aliens, ghosts, witches, psychopaths and demons, yet it often becomes a source of evil itself. Looking first at Psycho (1960) and continuing through 2017, this book analyzes the starring and supporting roles of the Good Book in horror films, monster movies and thrillers to discover why it incites such fear. In a culture with high biblical awareness and low biblical literacy, horrific portrayals can greatly influence an audience's canonical beliefs.

One of Christianity's most beloved pastors walks readers through the book of Psalms, helping them to live its comfort and promises in the face of life's relentless daily grind. We all have those days--when little problems become crises, when doubt begins to overwhelm belief, when exhaustion hits and happiness escapes. And the book of Psalms offers words of strength and comfort for those troublesome times. In this remarkably down-to-earth study of selections from Psalms, one of Christianity's foremost pastors and authors explores such pressing themes as fear of the unknown, discouragement and worry, how to handle difficult people and what to do when God is silent. Combining his trademark illustrations and insights with favorite passages from this beloved Bible book, Charles Swindoll offers up a work that will help readers live the Psalms as never before. Here is practical inspiration and victorious affirmation to get anyone through life's daily grind. Drawn from previous best-selling works, adapted for the 21st-century reader

Using a model of orientation - disorientation - new orientation, Brueggemann explores how the genres of the Psalms can'be viewed in terms of their function. This results in fresh readings of these ancient songs that illumine their spiritual depth. The voices of the Psalms come through in all their bold realism.

A repackaged edition of the revered author’s moving theological work in which he considers the most poetic portions from Scripture and what they tell us about God, the Bible, and faith. In this wise and enlightening book, C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—examines the Psalms. As Lewis divines the meaning behind these timeless poetic verses, he makes clear their significance in our daily lives, and reminds us of their power to illuminate moments of grace.

Find Daily Peace in a World of Chaos The unpredictable, unprecedented repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have upset nearly every facet of life. For many, the hope of returning to “normal” has slowly given way to fear of the unknown. To cling to what’s certain in a time of uncertainty, to find peace when anxiety abounds, look to the Psalms. Psalms for the Anxious Heart is a short, daily devotional that offers meditations of truth and peace. Each devotion includes a reading of a Psalm, a brief teaching on the passage, a salient truth to cling to, and a suggested song to guide further meditation. Enter the Psalms and find relief and hope for your anxious heart in these trying times.