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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-84.5.6 ThemesThe central motifs of the psalm are well summarised by Wilson (2002:188; cf.Stuhlmueller 1996).This psalm is a plea for deliverance from the psalmist’senemies, who are depicted as attacking him like ferociousbeasts. Employing the legal motif of a law case argued before ajudge, the psalmist appeals to Yahweh to base his judgement onrighteousness alone and, therefore, to exonerate the innocentand to mete out judgement on the wicked.The entire psalm assumes a legal context. Yahweh is presented as thepresiding Judge in a court setting (see especially vv. 9, 12). He is a just judgewho is indignant and intolerant of evil (vv. 7, 12). As a result, the righteouscan turn to Him for justice in times of false accusation, experiencing his justintervention as their Refuge (v. 2) and Shield (v. 11) as well as their Saviourand Deliverer (vv. 2, 10). To the wicked, by contrast, he is not only Judge, butalso Executioner (vv. 13-14).The judgement itself seems to take the form of granting victory to the innocentparty and inflicting defeat upon the guilty. If the psalmist be found guilty,Yahweh should permit his enemy to overtake and destroy him (vv. 4-6).166