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

Chapter 5: Concatenation in Psalms 3-8together? In this section, I shall explore possible links emerging from thepsalms’ occasion, usage, structure and themes.Historical links. A number of commentators (e.g., Lussier 1947; Leupold 1961;Kidner 1973; Phillips 1988; Richards 1990; Motyer 1994; Wilcock 2001; Lane2006) have proposed that Psalms 3 and 4 may both spring from the historicalcircumstances posited in the heading of Psalm 3, namely, David’s flight fromAbsalom. However, in my judgement the content of Psalm 4 does not fit theperiod of David’s flight very well. It suggests a setting of politicaldissatisfaction with no immediate threat of military conflict. If it had anything todo with Absalom’s rebellion, it would surely have to spring from the period ofmounting dissatisfaction with David’s rule prior to the rebellion, but even thisdoes not fit the portrayal of the event in 2 Samuel 14, in which David appearsto be blissfully unaware of the imminent threat. Therefore, I find Motyer’s(1994; cf. Wilcock 2001) proposal that David wrote Psalms 3 and 4 in themorning and evening of the same day of his flight from Absalomunconvincing. There is no available evidence indicating that a commonhistorical occasion provided the editors with their primary reason for placingPsalms 3 and 4 together.Functional links. The headings of the two psalms have the designation “apsalm of David” זְ‏ מוש לְ‏ דָ‏ וִ‏ ד)‏ ‏(מִ‏ in common, but that is where their similarities end.188