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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8that the Lord banishes the wicked from his presence, but welcomes andblesses the righteous.The psalmist addresses Yahweh as “my God and my King” (v. 3). The imageof Yahweh as King pervades the psalm, providing a framework for interpretingthe details of the psalm. He is a righteous and just King. He rules over hisrealm to establish an upright society. Doing evil is tantamount to rebellionagainst the King, who will pronounce evildoers guilty and cast them out of hisrealm (v. 11). Conversely, the righteous will enjoy the benefits of having anupright King. They will revel in his favour and his protection (vv. 12-13).Although he is a great King, Yahweh is favourably disposed towards therighteous. They may approach Him in the morning with faith, expectant thatthe Lord is accessible to them and will receive his prayers. 57 When they needjustice, they may lay their case before Him and expect Him to help them (v.4). 58 Like any king, he must be approached appropriately, with due reverencewhich denotes ‏,קָ‏ ץַ‏ ה translated “[I] wait in expectation” (NIV), is the Piel of the root ‏,וַ‏ אֲ‏ קַ‏ פֶ‏ ַֽ ה 57watching alertly (see Hartley 1999c:773). The Piel stem intensifies the element of expectation,here implying that the psalmist expected an answer to his requests.58 This point assumes that אֶ‏ ףֱ‏ שָ‏ ‏ְך־לְ‏ ‏ָך is to be interpreted as “stat[ing] in order, set[ting] forth alegal case” (BDB 2000, s.v. 1g).135