(Includes digital album download of Basement Psalms Live by Rick Lee James)

Book Synopsis:

The Psalms: you’ve heard them read in church, adapted into worship songs and maybe glanced through them once or twice. But have you ever asked yourself what the message is behind this moving yet enigmatic book? Have you ever let the Psalms truly speak to you, or, to put it more accurately, let God speak to you through them?

In Out of the Depths, singer and song-writer Rick Lee James invites you to do precisely that. Using a unique blend of personal stories, scholarship and pastoral insight, Rick walks you through the Book of Psalms in 10 deep and powerful chapters. He invites you to learn more, feel more and, above all, hear from God through the Psalms more than you ever have before.
Whether you’ve read the Psalms a hundred times or aren’t familiar with them at all, Out of the Depths is a book that will challenge you and help you to look at the Bible’s



Reviews

"Rick Lee James has accomplished what I have been trying to do for decades; bring together the thoughtful reader with the discerning listener. He has written an important introduction to the Psalter which opens the door to his own musical interpretations."

-MICHAEL CARD

Award Winning Singer, Songwriter, & Author


"The Psalms take up more real estate in the Bible than any other book. This ancient Jewish hymnal is an anthology of lyrics for one hundred and fifty songs. These God-obsessed poems are not to be blithely read, but prayed, or better yet chanted and sung. To properly approach the Psalms we need to abandon the didactic and embrace the poetic, but this does not come naturally for everyone. What we need is the artistic sensibilities of a songwriter to guide us. This is precisely what Rick Lee James brings to the Psalms in his wonderful book Out Of The Depths. As a pastor/songwriter/musician Rick Lee James is uniquely suited to introduce us to the Psalms and help us see how these three thousand year old songs speak to the whole range of human experience in the light of brutal honesty and radical trust in God. I highly recommend Out Of The Depths!"

-BRIAN ZAHND

Pastor & Author of A Farewell To Mars (2014)



"Part memoir, part biblical commentary, part album liner notes, Out of the Depths is a unique and refreshing exploration of the Psalms. Rick Lee James offers a compelling, insightful overview both of the theological contributions of the Psalms but also their inspiration for his own musical pursuits. The result is a soul-enriching journey through the highs, lows, joys and laments of the Christian life."

-BRETT MCCRACKEN

Author of Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty




From the Author

In 2013 I released a live DVD and album called Basement Psalms Live. It consists of 10 original songs inspired by the book of Psalms. Two songs from each of the 5 sections of the book of Psalms are included. In writing music and preparing to make this live concert album I did a lot of research and had more thoughts to share than I could possibly fit into 10 songs.
That's where the idea for this book came about. I wanted to share some thoughts, ideas, and insights that I gained about the Psalms during the year long process of putting together this live album. I feel like I have a really solid book about the Psalms from a Christ centered perspective.
My editors have done a great job arranging the material and I believe this book will be a help to many people who are struggling to walk with God, from the heights of joy to the depths of life's difficult places. Out Of The Depths is intended to be a companion to Basement Psalms Live, but is also a stand alone study into 10 of the most interesting, honest, and challenging Psalms in scripture. May God bless your journey.

Blessings,
Rick Lee James

Includes unlimited streaming of Basement Psalms Live via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.