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

Chapter 6: Composition of Psalms 3-81) Their respective opening strophes share three similarities inphraseology. First, the psalmist’s enemies are speaking against “mysoul” ץְ‏ שִ‏ י)‏ ‏(נַ‏ in 3:3, while in 7:3 they are threatening to tear “my soul”apart like a ferocious lion. Second, in both cases there appears ‏(נַ‏ ץְ‏ שִ‏ י)‏to be no way of escape, indicated by the phrases “there is nodeliverance” ‏,אֵ‏ ין יְשּוףָ‏ תָ‏ ה)‏ (3:3 and “none to deliver” ‏,אֵ‏ ין מַ‏ ִ יל)‏ .(7:3 Third,they share the cognate noun “deliverance” ‏,יְשּוףָ‏ תָ‏ ה)‏ 3:3) and verb.(7:2 ‏,יָשַ‏ ע)‏ “deliver”2) In Psalm 3:4, God will “lift the head” of the righteous psalmist tovindicate him against his foes, but in Psalm 7:16 the enemy’s mischief“returns upon his own head”. The shared lexeme ש ‏ֹאש (“head”) signalsthe link.3) The exact form כְ‏ בודִ‏ י occurs in 3:4 and 7:6. In 3:4, the psalmist uses itto call Yahweh “my glory”, likely meaning that Yahweh is the one whogives him honour and defends his honour. In 7:6, it is used in animprecation saying that if the psalmist is guilty of wrongdoing, Yahwehshould allow his enemy to take away “my honour”. The context makesit clear that he expects the opposite outcome—since he is guiltless,Yahweh will vindicate him and defend his honour.249