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

Chapter 5: Concatenation in Psalms 3-8begins with a disjunctive waw that dramatically changes the tone fromconcern to confidence in Yahweh. Psalm 3:4 addresses God Himself (“butyou, O Lord”), while Psalm 4:4 address the “sons of men” about God (“butknow that the Lord”), yet both affirm Yahweh’s commitment to and protectionof the psalmists.Thematic links. The overarching themes of the two psalms are not as similaras the foregoing discussion might lead one to expect. The themes of Psalm 3presuppose a military setting. The Lord is a military deliverer riding to thepsalmist’s aid to give him victory against all odds. By contrast, in Psalm 4 thecrisis is internal and political instead of external and military in nature. Nomilitary theme emerges in Psalm 4.Aside from such general themes as Yahweh hearing and responding to theprayers of his servants, there is one strong thematic link between the twopsalms. Both psalms imply that the psalmist is the Davidic king and that he isundergoing a serious crisis. They both portray Yahweh as the God who, out offaithfulness to his covenant with the king, protects his life and defends hishonour.191