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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-84.6.2 Historical reconstructionLittle is known about the historical occasion of Psalm 8. The heading identifiesit as a Davidic psalm דָ‏ וִ‏ ד)‏ ‏.(לְ‏ Beyond the heading, the psalm itself contains nointernal indication of its author, date or occasion. Therefore, I agree withCraigie’s (1998:106) conclusion that it “is not possible to specify the date andauthorship of the psalm with any certainty. The contents are of such a kind asto offer little help with dating.”On the basis of the switch between the first person singular (e.g., “I look”, v. 4)and plural (“our Lord”, vv. 2 and 10), Broyles (1999:71) suggests the author isprobably a liturgist, an individual speaking on behalf of the worshippingcommunity. This is possible, but not certain since it is not uncommon for anindividual in private prayer or worship to address God as “our Lord” or “ourFather”. The allusions to looking at the heavens, the moon and the sky (see v.4; there is no reference to the sun) prompt commentators to suggest it waswritten (e.g., Keil and Delitzsch 2002:90) or sung (e.g., Broyles 1999:71)under the night sky (Tate 2001:346). Fohrer (1968:286) believes it originatedas a non-cultic psalm, while Anderson (1972:100) argues for a cultic origin.169