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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8The righteous (strophes 3 and 5). In the third strophe, the psalmist contrastshimself strongly with wicked. The contrast is introduced with the words “but I”v. 8, where waw carries a clear disjunctive force). Surprisingly, what ‏,וַ‏ אֲ‏ נִ‏ י)‏follows is not a description of his own righteousness, but of his desire toworship and his recognition of his need for Yahweh’s mercy and help.‏,הֵ‏ יכָ‏ ל)‏ “temple” He vows to enter Yahweh’s “house” and bow down towards his80:13:1, v. 8b). הֵ‏ יכָ‏ ל appears to be a reference to the inner sanctuary (see55 ‏,חֶ‏ סֶ‏ ד)‏ love” Smith 2006). The ground of his approach is the Lord’s “steadfast245:127:2, v. 8a), while the manner of his approach is “in the fear of you”(“fear”, ‏,יִשְ‏ אָ‏ ה 44:8:1, v. 8b).Next the psalmist asks Yahweh to “lead ‏,נָ‏ חָ‏ ה]‏ 39:18:1] me in yourrighteousness ‏,קְ‏ דָ‏ רָ‏ ה]‏ 157:34:1]” (v. 9a). Leupold (1961:78) calls this covenantlanguage:He appeals to Yahweh, the faithful covenant God, because heknows that he stands in a covenant relationship with Him. To beled “in Thy righteousness” means according to that faithfulness55 For detailed studies of סֶ‏ ד ‏,חֶ‏ see Glueck (1975) and Sakenfeld (1978).132