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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8psalmist’s suffering, strophes B and D with his deliverance. We thus have ahighly patterned psalm with a balanced chiastic structure. 664.4.5 TerminologyThe terminology of the opening three strophes is dominated by references tointense pain and suffering. Some scholars believe this may be metaphoricalterminology for intense emotional anguish (e.g., Kraus 1988; McCann 1996;Ridderbos 1972; Rogerson and McKay 1977; VanGemeren 1991; Wilson2002), while others believe that the most natural interpretation remains thatthe psalmist’s deep distress is caused by a severe illness (cf. Oesterley 1939;Bratcher and Reyburn 1991; Mays 1994a; Craigie 1998; Goldingay 2006).66 Van der Lugt (cited by Christensen 2005d) offers a similar explanation of the structure. Hesees it consisting of two cantos: (1) 6:2-6 and (2) 6:7-11. Each canto contains two strophes,matching the strophic divisions in my outline. “Van der Lugt finds a linear parallelism betweenthe cantos and a concentric relationship between his four strophes as well” (Christensen2005d:7). His outline reflects the following parallel structure:I A 6:2-4B 6:5-6II A 6:7-8B 6:9-11143