This Poor Man Called: Stories and Songs of David (Volume 1)

David Barker takes a unique approach in this exploration of the psalms of David. Each chapter begins with a creative retelling of the biblical narrative, setting the scene for the psalm arising out of that experience. Having grounded the psalm in the “story,” Barker then goes into a verse-by-verse exposition of the psalm, and provides some explanatory notes and a statement of the key message of the psalm.

At the end of each psalm exposition, Barker asks three basic questions: What do we learn about God? What do we learn about ourselves as the people of God? and What do we learn about the world? Answering these questions helps us to understand how David’s experience shaped his theocentric and biblical worldview. David’s theology of God is of One who is sovereign in every situation and reigns as King. All of life is lived in the presence of God, and life and the act of worship, are an interactive dynamic of despair and hope, failure and success, sin and forgiveness (with consequences). David faced all of these, and his psalms reveal how his understanding of God grew and was enriched through these experiences.

It is hoped this practical look at David’s psalms will deepen your understanding of God and the transforming work accomplished on the cross by his Son, Jesus Christ.

Publisher: Heritage Seminary Press
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781774840634

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David G. Barker is professor emeritus of biblical studies at Heritage College & Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario. His area of specialty is the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms and wisdom books. He has pastored several churches in Ontario and served as vice president of academics at Heritage. He has published a number of essays about the Psalms and pastoral ministry, including "The Church and Imprecations in the Psalms: The Place of the Call To Curse in the Life of the Church Today" in Ecclesia Semper Reformanda Est-The Church Is Always Reforming: A Festschrift on Ecclesiology in Honour of Stanley K. Fowler (Joshua Press, 2016). David is married to Lorraine and together they enjoy doing life with their children and grandchildren.

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‘This book is gold for those who sense they are stuck in a rut with how they traditionally study and interpret Scripture. Even for those who don't sense it, they probably are. Taking the psalm titles seriously and matching David's poetic longings with episodes in his life, Barker deftly retells the biblical stories with added historical and cultural details, helping modern readers understand the accounts closer to the way original hearers would have. Then he shows how the matching psalms take on fresh meaning and clearer application. It's a hermeneutical tour de force.’ D. Brent Sandy, Manuscript Curator and Researcher, Grace College and Seminary, Formerly professor at several colleges & universities, most recently Wheaton College