Christopher Ash, The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary, vol. 1-4 (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 2,800 pp.
The book of Psalms breathe life into the human soul. The Holy Spirit-inspired pages of the psalter inspire hope, illuminate the mind, warm the affections, convict the heart, and move hands and feet to action. The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary (vol. 1-4) by Christopher Ash is not only his magnum opus; it is a gracious gift to the church. Almost 3,000 pages of commentary are included in this four volume set.
Each chapter corresponds with one of the 150 chapters in the book of Psalms. A predictable pattern develops at the outset which includes an orientation to the material, the text which overviews the basic structure and author and a detailed commentary, and a closing section of reflection and response.
The core of each chapter is the commentary, which includes pertinent observations and interpretative decisions that are biblically driven and informed. The author utilizes the best scholarship and includes citations from a wide range of evangelical theologians and pastors.
What is most striking about Ash’s work is his relentless pursuit of Christ in the text. The hermeneutical strategy is never forced (which is always something I am sensitive to). Rather, the author naturally draws readers to Christ and guides them on a biblical path whose aim is to glorify God in all things. In the end, this work is not only Christocentric; it is an invitation to worship!
I thank God for Christopher Ash’s fine work and trust that he will receive a wide readership and enhance the understanding of Christ-followers around the world.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 