David Barker takes a unique approach in this exploration of the psalms of David. Each chapter begins with a creative retelling of the biblical narrative, setting the scene for the psalm arising out of that experience. Having grounded the psalm in the "story," Barker then goes into a verse-by-verse exposition of the psalm, and provides some explanatory notes and a statement of the key message of the psalm.
At the end of each psalm exposition, Barker asks three basic questions:
What do we learn about God? What do we learn about ourselves as the people of God?
and
What do we learn about the world?
Answering these questions helps us to understand how David's experience shaped his theocentric and biblical worldview. David's theology of God is of One who is sovereign in every situation and reigns as King. All of life is lived in the presence of God, and life and the act of worship, are an interactive dynamic of despair and hope, failure and success, sin and forgiveness (with consequences). David faced all of these, and his psalms reveal how his understanding of God grew and was enriched through these experiences.
It is hoped this practical look at David's psalms will deepen your understanding of God and the transforming work accomplished on the cross by his Son, Jesus Christ.