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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8which has always prompted Him to do that which is right andjust toward those who have proved faithful to Him.25:2:1] ‏,יָשַ‏ ש]‏ He continues by asking the Lord to “make your way straightbefore me” (v. 9b), indicating his “desire . . . to follow the path of right conduct”(Ross 1985:795). He asks this “because of my enemies”. The term rendered‏,שּוש appears to be derived from the Polel participle of ‏(שושֵ‏ ש)‏ “enemies”meaning “to look, to watch”. The term is used five times in the Psalter (5:9,27:11, 54:7, 56:3 and 59:11), always to convey the idea of enemies who lie inwait for victims, who watch their victim’s every move awaiting a chance toattack (Hamilton 1999:913).In the final strophe, the righteous are further depicted as those who “take‏,אָ‏ הַ‏ ב)‏ “love” 36:24:2, v. 12a; cf. Ps 7:2) in Yahweh and who ‏,חָ‏ סָ‏ ה)‏ refuge”215:39:2, v. 12d) his “name” ‏,שֵ‏ ם)‏ 864:109:4). The desired results upon therighteous are spelled out in three imperfect verbs with a jussive force: maythey (a) “rejoice” ‏,שָ‏ מַ‏ ח)‏ 154:52:1, v. 12a), a general term for rejoicing that layssome stress on its outward expression (Swanson 1997:§8523; Grisanti1996:§8523); (b) “sing for joy” ‏,שָ‏ נַ‏ ן)‏ 53:25:1, v. 12b), suggesting loud, publicsinging or chanting (Swanson 1997:§8264); and (c) “exult” ‏,ףָ‏ לַ‏ צ)‏ 8:4:1, v. 12d).133