Answering the Psalmist's Perplexity

Creative, thoughtful, and attuned to the interconnectedness of Scripture... Pastors preaching on the Psalms will glean from Hutchinson's work, and students and scholars will reap a bountiful harvest.

James Hely Hutchinson carefully traces the place of the biblical covenants within the book of Psalms, demonstrating both their importance for the canonical shape of the book and also why this matters for us today. Widely read and closely attentive to the text, this is a vital treatment of this important topic.

In this book, James Hely-Hutchinson offers an outstanding model for studies on biblical theology exemplifying careful biblical exegesis and showing awareness of relevant scholarly issues involved but also keeping in view the whole storyline of the Bible. He carefully traces from the Book of Psalms how, even in the Old Testament, all the biblical covenants point beyond themselves to something new, bigger and better in fulfilment of the new covenant. Both pastors and students will benefit from the perceptively laid out argument of this book. It is an invaluable source of information for years to come on covenant theology discussions and Psalms study.

James Hely Hutchinson has dared to address some large, perpetually debated questions about the relationships among the biblical covenants through a new lens: the book of Psalms. In a creative interweaving of the messages of the different parts of the Psalter—understanding the Psalter as a unified collection in its final form—he shows how the major covenants—Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Levitical, Davidic, and New Covenants—are addressed in the book of Psalms and highlights the continuities, discontinuities, and complementary elements among them. An intriguing read that I recommend with pleasure.

Answering the Psalmist's Perplexity stands as an indispensable resource for scholars delving into the Psalter, providing clarity on its relationship with biblical covenants, particularly the new covenant. Dr. James Hely Hutchinson's meticulous analysis of the Psalms' composition unravels the enigma that the psalmist ponders, shedding light on God's unwavering covenant faithfulness. In this scholarly work, JHH's insights not only enhance our understanding of the Psalter but also contribute to a deeper grasp of its pivotal role within the broader scope of redemptive history.

In this fascinating study, Hely Hutchinson deftly and meticulously explores several key issues within a single volume. Not only does he present a robust, holistic interpretation of the Psalter, but he also demonstrates how the relationship between various divine-human covenants informs and is informed by the Psalter’s arrangement. As such, this is a must read for all those interested in the Psalter’s biblical-theological significance and/or contrasting theological systems in which the relationship between various divine covenants is of key importance.

James Hely Hutchinson has spent more than two decades studying the arrangement of the psalms in the Psalter. His book provides a compelling account of the way that this arrangement reflects God’s salvation plan. By analysing the relationships between the different covenants mentioned across the Psalter, Hely Hutchinson provides fascinating insights into the way that the psalms work as a collection to give hope for the future ideal Davidic king who will bless and be blessed by a new-covenant people from all nations. He also explains and evaluates a spectrum of seven different positions on covenant relationships and irenically charts a way forward in the light of his findings in the Psalter. His book richly rewards careful reading.

Here is an up-to-date, broad-sweeping engagement with the book of Psalms and its contribution to question of the relationship between the different biblical covenants. The reader finds here innovative interaction between Psalm 89 and the Psalter in its totality, set in the context of biblical theology and working with sound exegesis. Building on his previous work in Psalms studies, Hely Hutchinson tackles a difficult question: “What is new about the new covenant, according to the book of Psalms?”
Many studies dealing with editorial criticism on the Psalter have been published in the last few decades. This one carefully locates the discussion not only in the Psalter itself, but also includes careful insights from the different covenants progressively revealed in Scripture. Answering the Psalmist’s Perplexity is a refreshing and challenging study, but also a model of biblical theology.

My resonance with this book is deep and wide, methodological and exegetical. James Hely Hutchinson serves as a surefooted guide (in English! at your desk!) through the highest mountain passes of the Psalter: its editorial arrangement, its contribution to our understanding of the covenants, and its typological presentation of the coming king. Here is a book whose author has meditatively studied the Psalms, and reading this book is the next best thing to exegeting through the Psalter with him in class. So if you can't get to Belgium to take his class in French, avail yourself of what he has provided for you in this book.