Smith DTh Thesis (final).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8While it is impossible to reconstruct the exact historical occasion of the psalm,two plausible reconstructions of the general circumstances of writing arepossible. The first regards it as an individual prayer for help after the psalmisthas suffered a loss of honour caused by some persons of influence spreadinghumiliating lies about him (so Mays 1994a; Craigie 1998). His enemies haveturned the psalmist’s honour to shame by spreading lies about him (v. 3). Withgreat assurance, the psalmist addresses his prayers to Yahweh (vv. 2, 4)confident that the Lord who gave him relief before (v. 2) has set him apart forHimself (v. 4) and will keep him safe through the night (v. 9). Finding his joyand strength in the Lord (v. 8), he counsels his enemies to manage theirfrustrations in a more godly manner (vv. 5-6). Motyer (1994) sees the psalmas an attack on the psalmist’s honour and considers it as a sequel to Psalm 3,set within David’s flight from Absalom (see Ps 3:1), on the second night of hisflight. 33The other reconstruction (see Dahood 1966; Wilson 2002; Goldingay 2006),based largely on verses 7-8, sees the setting as an agricultural crisis (e.g., a33 This interpretation of Psalm 4 does not require this implied historical context, but many ofthose who favour it also suggest this setting (e.g., Lussier 1947; Leupold 1961; Kidner 1973;Phillips 1988; Richards 1990; Motyer 1994; Wilcock 2001).108