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

Chapter 5: Concatenation in Psalms 3-8chain of three consecutive “psalms of David” belonging to “the musicdirector’s collection”. Furthermore, Psalms 4, 5 and 6 are also three of onlyeight psalms for which the heading indicates the type of instrument on which itis to be played. Stringed instruments are mentioned in the headings of Psalms4, 6, 54, 55, 61, 67 and 76, while flutes are mentioned in Psalm 5. Therefore,Psalms 4-6 are the only three psalms in Book I for which instruments areindicated. They also form the only chain of three consecutive psalmsmentioning instruments.There is no evidence to suggest that the two psalms were used in a similar lifesetting within ancient Israelite worship. Psalm 5 was probably used during themorning sacrifice at the temple, whereas Psalm 6 may have been used bytemple priests to minister to sufferers (see Mays 1994a; Broyles 1999).Although it may imply a setting in the morning after a long, sleepless night ofanguish, nobody considers it a “morning hymn” in the same sense as Psalm 5warrants that label.Structural links. Although both psalms are carefully structured and highlybalanced using a chiastic framework, no markers cause sections of the twopsalms to correspond closely to each other. I see no structural markers thatmight have influenced the editors to juxtapose the two psalms.209