The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary (Volume 1, Introduction: Christ and the Psalms)
How did Jesus read the Psalms? In The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary (Volume 1, Introduction: Christ and the Psalms), Christopher Ash provides a compelling and insightful framework for interpreting the Psalms through a Christ-centered lens. This first volume serves as a detailed introduction to Ash’s methodology, setting the stage for a deep dive into all 150 Psalms in the subsequent volumes. His approach helps readers understand how the Psalms speak both to the psalmists in their own context and, more profoundly, to the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
This volume is the first in a four-volume series. While Volumes 2-4 will provide comprehensive treatments of each Psalm, Volume 1 focuses on the foundational principles of interpreting the Psalms as Christian Scripture. Ash explains the rationale behind his Christ-centered approach, guiding readers to see Jesus at the heart of every Psalm. For Ash, the Psalms are not merely ancient songs or prayers but living, breathing expressions that speak to the heart of Christ’s work and to the life of the Church across all ages.
Ash argues that the Psalms are integral to the corporate life of the Church. They teach us how to pray, praise, and live in a way that is shaped by the Holy Spirit. By speaking and singing the Psalms, the Church is formed and nurtured in its life together, promoting a godly life and protecting against individualistic or self-centered piety. The Psalms, in Ash’s view, are not just individual expressions of faith but corporate prayers that shape all of human life and align it with God’s will.
A Life of Faith
What I found particularly enlightening in this volume is Ash’s exploration of the Psalms’ portrayal of the emotions of Jesus in his human nature. The Psalms give us a window into the full range of human experience—joy, sorrow, distress, desire, faith in God, longing, waiting, consolation, indignation, perplexity, loneliness—and Ash shows how these emotions are not only reflective of the psalmists’ experiences but also deeply connected to Jesus’ own earthly life. This has deepened my understanding of Christ’s humanity and made me more confident that Jesus truly understands the breadth of human experience. He is able to empathize with our struggles and offer real help in our need. After reading this book, I am in awe of what it must have been like for Jesus to live a life of faith on earth, fully experiencing what it means to be human.
One of the key issues Ash addresses is whether Jesus, as the sinless Son of God, could pray penitential prayers or imprecatory prayers, as found in the Psalms. Ash offers a thoughtful and biblically grounded response. He argues that Jesus, while without sin, is so deeply identified with his people that he can authentically pray these prayers on their behalf as our covenant head. As for the imprecatory psalms, Ash explains that Christ prays these prayers not in judgment, but as part of his prayer for the coming of God’s kingdom: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This perspective is both faithful to the person of Jesus and honors the continued significance of the Psalms for the Church today.
After reading this volume, I am motivated to incorporate the Psalms more intentionally into my own devotional life and in the life of the Church. The Psalms are not only essential to the Christian faith, but they are also Christ-centered in a way that deepens our understanding of his work and strengthens our spiritual life. This book has inspired me to see the Psalms not just as ancient texts but as living prayers that speak to us today, pointing us to Christ and shaping our worship and walk with God.
I received a media copy of The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary (Volume 1, Introduction: Christ and the Psalms) and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.