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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8The psalmist begins with an appeal for Yahweh to show him mercy. Theimplication appears to be that he views his suffering as Yahweh’s judgement(see Althan 1999:77-79), for the verbs “rebuke” ‏,יָכַ‏ ח)‏ 59:7:1, v. 2a) and“discipline” ‏,יָסַ‏ ש)‏ 41:9:1, v. 2b) both imply that their object is guilty of a‏,אַ‏ פ)‏ “anger” wrongdoing. He senses that he is the object of Yahweh’s277:35:2, v. 2a) and “wrath” ‏,חֵ‏ מָ‏ ה)‏ 125:15:1, v. 2b). Both these terms carry aconnotation of intense displeasure, the latter with the added nuance of feelingwronged (see Swanson 1997:§2779).‏,אֻ‏ מְ‏ לַ‏ ל)‏ “languishing” The psalmist describes his suffering by saying that he is1:1:1; v. 3a), and that both his “bones” ‏,ףֶ‏ קֶ‏ ם)‏ 108:15:1, v. 3b) and his “soul” are“troubled” ‏,בָ‏ הַ‏ ל)‏ 39:10:3; vv. 3b and 4a). Although the adjective אֻ‏ מְ‏ לַ‏ ל is ahapax, the cognate verb אָ‏ מַ‏ ל was used to describe “a state of exhaustion”resulting from “God’s punishment and discipline” (Scott 1999:50). The termבָ‏ הַ‏ ל Niphal, depicts someone who is physically weak and exhausted. In thecan denote either “a state of anguish” (see Swanson 1997:§987.3) or a stateof “physical pain” (see Swanson 1997:§987.4). According to Achtemeier(1974:82), it “always carries with it in the Old Testament the imminent threatof an end or of death.”The terminology of strophe 2 is consistent with generic petition fordeliverance. The psalmist appeals to Yahweh to “deliver” ‏,חָ‏ לַ‏ צ)‏ 44:12:2, v. 5a)144