Greatly to Be Praised: The Old Testament and Worship

Worship is a dominant theme in the Old Testament. It is spoken about not only to provide words for worship guidance about its leadership or to express censure for its inadequacies but also to depict places for worship and their significance and to speak of the high calling of those who had particular roles and responsibilities in worship. Worship for the Old Testament authors has a vital place in the covenantal relationship between the Lord and his people. Michael Thompson considers Israels worship under a series of themes and aspects--the place of worship (holy places temples and homes); the various people at worship (the people priests and Levites and kings); the liturgy of worship (prayers psalms sacrifices feasts festivals and calendars); and visions of worship (in the proclamations of prophets wisdom writers theologians and Israelite priests). These and many other matters relating to worship in the Hebrew Bible are presented in this fresh and wide-ranging study. The Hebrew Bible is the product of a worshipping community and worship is equally one of its central concerns. Yet this topic is infrequently studied in ways that are both academically well grounded and sympathetic to the subject. Deeply rooted in scholarship but avoiding its tedium Thompson has filled this gap in a comprehensive manner. His book will instruct the student and at the same time broaden the understanding of the pastor or worship leader. --H. G. M. Williamson Emeritus Regius Professor of Hebrew University of Oxford Michael Thompson has performed a great service to his readers by bringing together numerous clues to the worship life of ancient Israel from within (and from outside) the Bible. He aims to bridge what is sometimes perceived as a divide between Academy and Church and with great clarity he succeeds in making the findings of the former accessible to the latter. A fine exploration of Israels response to God in praise prayer and offering. --Adrian Curtis Honorary Research Fellow Religions and Theology The University of Manchester Michael E. W. Thompson is a Methodist Minister who in retirement has served as part-time tutor in Old Testament with East Midlands Ministry Training Course in England. He is author of Where is the God of Justice? The Old Testament and Suffering (Pickwick 2011).