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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8face (v. 7). 38 In the second, he recalls how Yahweh has been the source of hisjoy in the past (v. 8). In the final bicolon, he expresses confidence inYahweh’s protection (v. 9).4.2.5 Terminology 39Unlike Psalm 3, in which the terminology clusters strongly around militaryterms, no single word group dominates Psalm 4. I shall work through theterminology of the psalm strophe by strophe discussing terms of interest.Verses 2-4. The psalmist appealed for God to listen to his cry for help. Heused several terms that are characteristic of a lament: “call” רָ‏ שָ‏ א)‏ [x2],736:56:3, vv. 2 and 4), “answer” ‏,ףָ‏ נָ‏ ה)‏ 315:36:2, v. 2), “hear” שָ‏ מָ‏ ע)‏ [x2],, ְ ץִ‏ לָ‏ ה)‏ “prayer” 76:32:2, v. 2) and ‏,חָ‏ נַ‏ ן)‏ gracious” 1159:79:5, vv. 2 and 4), “be77:32:2, v. 2).38 It is possible to interpret the whole of verse 7 as the words of the “many”. The NIV, forexample, views 7b as their request for God to lift up the light of his face upon them.39 Leupold (1961) draws attention to many similarities to Psalm 3. Both he and Phillips (1988)believe it stems from the same historical setting as Psalm 3; so too Kidner (1973), albeittentatively.114