Psalms in Sickness and in Health
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About this book
Like us, the writers of the biblical psalms struggled with illness and the ways that the brokenness of the world affected their bodies, emotions, and communities. The poets responded with screams, cries, and questions, but they also gave thanks, praised, and reflected on their broader community. In this book, Andrew W. Litke brings together the biblical psalms that deal with health, both psalms of lament and psalms of thanksgiving. He gives them new life with fresh translations and carefully unpacks the layers of meaning in the psalms, showcasing the unique voice of each poet. Taken together, Litke shows how these psalms display a profound diversity of religious expression in the face of struggle, an astonishing level of honesty and vulnerability with God, and an encouraging depth of courageous faith for all those who struggle.
Praise for this book
“With deep wisdom, raw honesty, and theological insight, Andrew W. Litke invites us into the Psalms as a sacred refuge for those walking through the valleys of illness, grief, and suffering. Drawing from both personal experience and careful biblical scholarship, he illuminates how the psalms give voice to our deepest laments yet also offer profound hope. This book is a gift to anyone seeking solace in Scripture amid life’s hardest seasons. A must-read for caregivers, pastors, and all who long to encounter God in their pain.”
Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care, Western Theological Seminary
Tremper Longman III, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
“Speaking of the book of Psalms, Calvin rightly claimed, ‘there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror.’ David Hubbard, former president of Fuller Theological Seminary, said that there is a psalm for every season of our life. Andrew Litke presents to us psalms that speak to us when we find ourselves in a season of sickness. His fresh translations and his penetrating commentary open up these psalms so they can become our own prayers and bring us closer to God even as we struggle.”
David M. Hanke, Rector, Restoration Anglican Church, Arlington, Virginia
“Psalms in Sickness and in Health offers an unfiltered encounter and deeply pastoral guide for the psalms. With fresh translations and keen insight, Andrew Litke invites us into the raw honesty of Scripture, showing how God meets us in our pain and draws us into deeper faith. A gift to anyone seeking God in the midst of illness and struggle. An invitation for everyone to slow down, listen, and find their cry in these ancient prayers.”
William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary
“With the kind of pastoral sensitivity born only from personal experience, Andrew Litke explicates certain psalms of lament, thanksgiving, and trust to reveal how they equip persons facing distress with prayer, hope, and wisdom. Beginning with his own, fresh translations, Andrew lovingly shows how the psalms can speak to us, with us, and for us. His book is a gift to the church, an indispensable pastoral resource for all who suffer, in whatever form, and for those who provide care.”
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