Review: The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary By Christopher Ash—Part 2: Commentary Volumes

Christopher Ash has published a slew of material on the Psalms in his career.1 That trajectory has culminated in his massive four-volume commentary on the whole Psalter. This work is a tremendous contribution, not in the cliché sense, but in every way as a scholarly achievement that advances theology and provides a rich resource for pastors.

In volumes 2–4, he provides an exegetical treatment of every psalm. The organization follows the same pattern for each.

Orientation

Each psalm has an introductory section orienting readers to the content of the psalm. This section sketches the content and main concepts. Ash often uses anecdotes, stories, or illustrations to bring us into the material.

These orientations, in my estimation, are part of what sets this commentary apart from others. Lots of commentaries on the Psalms major on the details. Fine points of structure and word studies are front and center. The focus is constantly and immediately on the particulars rather than the whole.

The trouble with that approach is that preachers rarely have the scope to slog through detail after detail in the pulpit and are thus left to do all the synthesis. Rather, we need the main point of the whole, the synthesis, as the front and center consideration. Ash understands better than any other commentator that I have ever read what the preacher needs from a commentary.

The Text

At the other extreme of exegetical commentaries majoring entirely on detail is the sort of devotional literature that provides good personal significance but little exegetical grounding or theological depth. Ash avoids this ditch too, providing solid and thorough discussion of the text’s structure, language, and issues.

As I noted in part 1 of this review, Ash is perhaps the most theologically skilled exegetical commentator I have ever read. He has the ability to understand many of the challenging interpretive issues in the Psalms. When applying categories like “the righteous” and “the wicked,” he understands how to navigate that language in light of redemptive-historical shifts and contexts, as well as important Reformation doctrines like original sin and justification by faith alone. He has a real sensitivity to parsing not only the text’s intended meaning, including rhetorical force, but also its relation to these wider theological categories.

Still, Ash is not light on exegetical rigor. He deals directly with the Hebrew text and shows his savvy with translation issues and complicated aspects of the text. Yet even when dealing with details, he does not lose sight of the whole. He understands that not every detail needs comment and that details deserving comment should be related back to the big picture.

These facets so far show that Ash is a tremendously clear thinker. He knows his tasks, the categories, and the tools for the work. Some commentaries have to be read but are a slog. Ash is truly an enjoyable read.

Reflection and Response

The final section for each psalm returns to the big picture and points toward significance. These sections include application, connections to Christ, relations within the psalter, and interpretive conclusions. They vary in length, but they are helpful to point the reader forward again in making use of the psalm.

Here too, Ash shows himself attuned to the needs of preachers when using a commentary. He knows what true pastoral value is. He also knows what it means to write for the church.

Christopher Ash’s commentary on the Psalter is probably the best commentary I have ever used. As someone who tries to be soaked in the literature in preparation for my sermons, I often find myself frustrated with commentaries that leave me with nearly nothing fruitful to use for sermon preparation. Sermons cannot be just a book report on exegetical work. They have to be richer than that.

One maxim I have adopted is, “You don’t need to say something about every detail, you just need enough details to say something.” The point is that the smaller points of biblical interpretation are valuable only insofar as they furnish something spiritually profitable to say. That does not mean they all have to be immediately practical. It does mean they should matter in some sense.

Ash has mastered that balance. Each treatment of a psalm is an easily manageable length. I have yet to come away lacking a thought-provoking insight from Ash’s work. This resource will be bearing fruit in understanding the psalms for preaching for generations to come. It is a real milestone. Every pastor should have it, and every church should make sure their pastor has it.

Note

  1. Christopher Ash, Teaching Psalms: From Text to Message, 2 vol. (Fearn: Christian Focus, 2017–18); Christopher Ash, Psalms for You (Epsom, UK: The Good Book Company, 2020); Christopher Ash, The King’s Choir: Singing the Psalms with Jesus (Epsom, UK: The Good Book Company, 2020).

©Harrison Perkins. All Rights Reserved.

Ash, Christopher, The Psalms: A Christ-centered Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024).

You can find part 1 here.


RESOURCES

Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization


Subscribe to the Heidelblog today!


Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments are welcome but must observe the moral law. Comments that are profane, deny the gospel, advance positions contrary to the Reformed confession, or that irritate the management are subject to deletion. Anonymous comments, posted without permission, are forbidden. Please use a working email address so we can contact you, if necessary, about content or corrections.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.