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

Chapter 4: Analysis of Psalms 3-8birds ‏,קִ‏ פוש)‏ 40:7:1) and fish ‏,דג)‏ 19:1:1). The point is that human beings weregiven dominion over the entire animal kingdom.4.6.6 ThemesThe central theme of the psalm is the majesty of the name Yahweh (see Vosand Olivier 2002). “The name of Yahweh here is a reference to God’s personand his character. The Name is synonymous with everything He is. Thereforethe psalmist begins with Yahweh and ends with Yahweh” (Maré 2006:928). Atthe Exodus, God revealed Himself to Israel by his name, “Yahweh” (see Exod3:14). The psalmist reverently celebrates the fact that Yahweh is “our Lord”vv. 2, 10). He rejoices because “our Lord” is also the majestic ‏;אֲ‏ דֹנֵ‏ ינּו)‏sovereign over everything. Yahweh’s majesty is seen in the splendour of hiscreation (vv. 2c, 4), his absolute power over his enemies (v. 3) and hiswonderful care for humankind (vv. 5-9). 9494 Tate (2001:348) sees “the pervasive kingship language” as the dominant, unifying theme ofthe Psalm 8. He notes a variety of terms “indicating strength, power, and glory associatedwith God as King, Creator, and Divine Warrior.” He regards this as an important link with “thetwin psalms 9-10, which focus on the Kingship of Yahweh: ‘Yahweh is King forever and ever’(Ps 10:16)” (p. 344). Coetzee (2006) agrees that “royal terminology dominates the psalm” (p.1131), but he sense that “the emphasis of the royal terminology falls on humankind. . . .177