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

Chapter 2: History of Psalms Studiesintentionally positioned conclusion to the Psalter. It is unique among thepraise psalms, being the only one that summons to praise without offering anyreasons for praise. 8 The goal of the Psalter, therefore, is to move the readerfrom obedience to praise, from willing duty to utter delight, from Psalm 1 toPsalm 150.However, the journey from the one boundary to the other is not smooth. Thepsalms consistently belie the idealistic world of Psalm 1. Throughout thePsalter, the psalmists struggle to come to terms with Yahweh’s חֶ‏ סֶ‏ ד (chesed)since in the trials of life he appears to have been unfaithful to his covenant.Brueggemann’s thesis is that “the way from torah obedience to selfabandoningdoxology is by way of candor about suffering and gratitude abouthope” (1991a:72, emphasis in original). Psalm 73 stands at the centre of thePsalter, both literally and theologically, being a microcosm of the entirePsalter and denoting the turning point from obedience to praise (seeBrueggemann and Miller 1996).8 This might be a slight overstatement since Psalm 150:2, “Praise him for his mighty deeds;praise him according to his excellent greatness” (ESV, emphasis added), does containgrounds clauses. Brueggemann’s point, however, was that the whole of Psalm 150, includingverse 2, essentially functions as a call to praise. The psalmist does not pause to motivatepraise with a catalogue of reasons.38