Rabbi Harold Kushner believes that the Twenty-third Psalm--perhaps the most memorable and cherished chapter of the Bible--offers spiritual riches that can change a person's life. He has found that these simple, beautiful verses, full of honesty and optimism, have an almost magical power to comfort and calm. The psalm does not pretend that life is ever easy, but it offers a masterful guide to living in the world with faith and courage. Drawing on over forty years of his own thinking, on other biblical scholars, and on history, Kushner gracefully demonstrates how this sustaining work can help us cope with every aspect of life, from mundane jealousies to the death of a loved one to unimaginable tragedies of global proportions.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Just Worth Reading, Not Worth Buying:
This book focuses on the 23rd Psalm, but I found it to be a bit self-centered. It is probably a great read for someone going through a time of personal grief, and I believe that is what the author intended, since he is the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. I can appreciate that aspect of the book, but I feel that some of his interpretations of the psalm are incorrect. One instance that comes to mind is his view of the rod and staff mentioned in the psalm. Kushner tends to view the rod... more info
A fresh way of looking at faith and the Bible:
I went to a Baptist seminary and studied there for 5 years. I have read all kinds of commentaries doing my papers of Biblical exegesis. Honest to God, nobody compares to the Jews in interpreting the Bible. After all, it is their Bible and we took it from them. Some of us hijack the interpretation and insist on one way of interpretation, and these are what you could call "Christian Fundamentalists". One way of interpretation and it is their way. But Rav. Kushner is amazing. I like his depth of scholarship,... more info
Find Uplifting, Modern Meaning In An Old Favorite:
This book takes a very difficult topic and gives it an encouraging side. Even though life can be tough, even wrenching, sometimes (Kushner's analysis applies well beyond the topic of death that we associate with this psalm), finding the comfort in Psalm 23 means not being alone in your plight. The author puts a much greater understanding around some very abstract language that allowed me to get much more than just reading the words and taking them at face value only. This is a must-read for many of us.
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!:
This book gives so much depth and daily application to a prayer that almost everyone has heard at one time or another. I used to think this was the prayer for funerals and death but it is very much for the living every day. Rabbi Kushner is a phenomenal author that I find incredibly easy to read and so meaningful.
