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

Chapter 5: Concatenation in Psalms 3-8boldly proclaims the Lord’s contempt for the rebels and calls upon Him to callthem to account for their transgressions.5.2.3 Basis of arrangementWhy did the editors place Psalm 5 immediately after Psalm 4? As I noted atthe beginning of section 5.2, both historical and functional theories have beenproposed. Therefore, let us begin by considering these two possibilities.The internal evidence offers little support for the theory that a commonhistorical occasion of writing accounts for their close relationship. Even if wewere to concede that David wrote both psalms (which is much disputed,especially with reference to Psalm 5) under similar circumstances, the natureof the editorial superscriptions would point more towards a liturgicalrelationship than towards an historical one. Their editorial headings containmusical notes, not historical ones. Even if the same author wrote them undersimilar circumstances, the headings suggest that this did not serve as thechief concern of the editors when incorporating them in collections of psalms.The functional hypothesis holds that their sequencing is best explained by thefact that Psalm 4 was used as an evening hymn and Psalm 5 as a morninghymn in congregational worship. This theory merits serious consideration. It isprobable that these psalms were used in congregational worship as evening204