Praise and Petition in the Old Testament

Book excerpt: For six decades, Erhard Gerstenberger was a leader in the study of the Psalms and ancient Israelite poetry. The essays in this volume bring together some of his key contributions reflecting on two fundamental forms of prayer in the biblical tradition: praise and petition. Both the student and the experienced researcher will be enriched by the depth and clarity of perspective that Gerstenberger brings. One of the essays (chapter 4) appears here for the first time in any language. Contents 1. Petition and Praise: Basic Forms of Prayer in Babylonian and Hebrew Traditions 2. “Where Is God?” The Cry of the Psalmist 3. Complaint and Confession: Psalm 69 4. Form Criticism in Action: Psalm 22 5. New Form Criticism: Psalm 55 6. Jeremiah’s Complaints: Observations on Jer 15:1–21 7. Elusive Lamentations: What Are They About?