Summary
We find Tate’s Psalms 51 to 100 to be a substantial technical guide through a deeply pastoral portion of the Psalter. These psalms move from confession and lament into trust, praise, and renewed confidence in the Lord. Tate helps us handle the text with care, especially where poetry, structure, and translation questions matter.
This volume is at its best when we need detail, patient exegesis, and help tracing the argument of individual psalms. It is less concerned to hand us sermon applications, but it gives the raw material that makes applications truer.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this commentary if we teach the Psalms regularly and want a reliable technical resource. The Psalms can be mishandled either by turning them into vague therapeutic comfort, or by treating them as detached from covenant faith and the worshipping community. Careful exegesis helps us avoid both mistakes.
We also benefit when the psalms speak in intense emotional registers. Tate’s attention to structure and phrasing helps us keep lament honest, confession clear, and praise robust. That supports preaching that meets real people in real grief without losing the fear of the Lord.
For Reformed preaching, the value is again the strengthening of the text level footing. The Psalms train us to pray and sing as believers, and careful handling helps us lead the church in that training.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend this as an advanced technical companion for Psalms 51 to 100, especially for pastors and teachers who want to do careful work in the Psalms. It pairs well with a more pastorally oriented exposition that moves more quickly toward sermon structure and application.
As a next step, we can visit the Bible Book Overview for Psalms, browse Top Recommendations, or use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser, more balanced shelf.
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Marvin E. Tate
Marvin E. Tate
Marvin E. Tate was an American Old Testament scholar of the modern era, working within mainstream academic scholarship.
His work on the Psalms provides detailed engagement with poetic structure, themes, and difficult wording. We can benefit from his technical help when preparing sermons or studies, while keeping the Psalms’ covenant faith and Christward fulfilment clear in our proclamation.
He remains valued for sustained attention across a wide range of psalms and for careful observation that supports close reading.
Recommended titles include Psalms 51 to 100 in Word Biblical Commentary, studies on the Psalms, and work on Old Testament poetry.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical