Selections from the Psalms: Part One (Udemy.com)

I very much enjoyed the lectures and gained insights into the text. I signed up for this course to learn to pray the Psalms and while Prof. Wright often said, "When I pray the Psalms," I still don't feel like I know how to pray them. I would have needed some practical teaching and modeling on how to go to God in prayer using the Psalms. For example, we know now that Jesus is the great fulfillment of the Psalmists' prayers. So does that mean we always "interpret" these prayers through that lens as we pray? Or do we put ourselves in the shoes of the writer and try to stay in their world as we pray so we don't "make" the text say what we want it to say? I don't want to ask God to "execute vengeance on the nations" (Psalm 149:7) because I know that Jesus already absorbed vengeance into himself on the cross. So do I just thank him for doing that and move on? I have a ton more questions like this that remain unanswered. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to better understand the Psalms (without necessarily understanding how to use them to pray).

The first session that N.T. Wright gave on Psalm 1 was excellent and really made me think about choosing to delight in the law and to not be sucked into the entropy that is wickedness. It is good to make an effort for righteousness. He helped me see why Psalm 1 is the first Psalm as it sets out the broad standards.

A terrific introduction to the Psalms. Enlightened us to its meaning and breadth of it. Wonderful! Cant wait until the next study of Psalms.

Prof Wright's insights into the Psalms reflected a life of a rich faith and love for God and his people. I appreciated how he related the Psalms to our everyday life and our prayers to the Lord. I cam away with a deeper understanding of what it means to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Thank you Prof Wright!

Since I belong to a different denomination from that to which Prof. Wright belongs, I was not as familiar with the Psalter as I should have been, especially as the basis for regular daily prayer. This course therefore has been a real eye-opener, far beyond all my initial expectations. My sense of deep gratitude to Prof. Wright therefore continues to grow.

WOW! …this series on the psalms is incredibly relevant and powerful as we negotiate the pandemic and political upheaval of our times — we get permission to lament and not have it all worked out and explained in strange foreboding ‘endtime’ theories, we get lifted to see Jesus is on the throne unthreatened, and unrelenting in his rule of grace and righteousness, we get to see God has not lost his way and “Thy Kingdom Come on earth is not a ‘carrot on a stick prayer’” but His vision statement, and we get lifted out of our gloom and doom cloud of despondency into heartening uplifting worship to celebrate Jesus in expectation of where all this going in New Creation! O my God! Does it get more relevant than that —-thank you N.T. Wright and thanks to your Wisconsin Centre for Christian Studies team also.

I have enjoyed pausing to reflect and learn more about these Psalms that have often comforted me throughout life. Professor Wright brings such love for the text and deeper understanding of the authors' high view of God in praise and in despair. This course has been used by God to draw me to think on His nature and faithfulness during a very difficult season of life.

I found this course to be outstanding. Professor Wright ties the various Psalms that he exams to Scripture texts and themes in the Old Testament and the New Testament, seeing the Old Testament as an unfinished story which finds its completion in Jesus and the mission of the God's people in the power of the Holy Spirit. In that vein, he draws powerful truths from the Psalms within 9 sections. I feel that my understanding of the Psalms is deeply enriched, enhancing my prayers, but also my understanding of the Bible for growth, mission, and worship. I will be going through these lectures many times, as well as anticipating Part II.

Prof Wright so aptly say that Psalms is the prayer book of the bible. In this course, he expounded richly on various Psalms and aided me greatly in using the Psalms to pray and worship God. The book of Psalms have blessed the followers of God since thousands of years ago till today. The Psalms is where a believer's lament and prayer intersects. And in that intersection, hope and comfort is found in God. I highly recommend this course! :)

The psalms are often very personal (but also Divine) and therefore speak directly to you. They are a recognition of your own life, but also of what happened in the world then and now. The choice of psalms in this course is a reflection of the great questions of men on the one hand, and the great answers of God on the other. Follow the many routes from lament and fear to joy and flourishing in this course