Posttraumatic Growth in Psalms of Lament, Jeremiah, and Lamentations

This book examines the presence and patterns of posttraumatic growth in selected biblical texts in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament to show how ancient Israelites interpreted trauma, particularly the fall of Jerusalem, and how these responses reshape biblical interpretation and theology. It offers a reflection on the theological and psychological implications of trauma in the Bible, ultimately encouraging a positive approach to personal suffering and crises. In the first chapter, Li argues for the qualified applicability of today's psychological research to ancient people. The following chapters examine these questions in specific biblical texts: Whether a traumatic event is described in the text; whether and what dimension of posttraumatic growth is presented; whether growth coexists with stress after the traumatic events; and whether posttraumatic growth is accompanied by the belief in a just world and the form it takes. This book reveals some crucial features of posttraumatic growth in ancient Israel, leads to a fresh interpretation of biblical texts, and helps the readers to understand ancient Israelites' unique worldview and faith. Posttraumatic Growth in Psalms of Lament, Jeremiah, and Lamentations is suitable for students and scholars in biblical studies, especially those interested in psychological and trauma-informed reading of the Bible and the relationship between scripture, trauma, and suffering.

Xi Li is Research Fellow in Biblical Studies and Moral Theology at the Centre for Judaic and Interreligious Studies, Shandong University, China. His work has appeared in Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament, and Harvard Theological Review.

Introduction; 1. The Applicability of Trauma Studies to the Hebrew Bible; 2. Individual Psalms of Lament and Posttraumatic Growth; 3. Communal Psalms of Lament and Posttraumatic Growth; 4. The Book of Jeremiah and Posttraumatic Growth; 5. Lamentations and Posttraumatic Growth; 6. Conclusion.