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

Chapter 3: MethodologyDue to the nature and purpose of this study, it is possible to downplay theneed for historical reconstruction in the exegetical process (see §3.3.2above). The same cannot be said of the need to seek the possible life-settingsin which the psalm was used. The chief alternative to a literary rationale forthe collection and arrangement of a group of psalms is a liturgical one. If theevidence suggests that all the psalms in a small corpus were used in thesame social or cultic setting, then the primary relationship between thosepsalms is probably liturgical and such literary links as may exist between themshould be interpreted in that light. Therefore, the exegetical stage of this studydevotes significant attention to form-critical considerations.3.4.6 Structural analysisStructural similarities may create that impression that two pieces of literatureare of the same kind and “belong together”. While not as concrete as lexicallinks, this factor can play a role in the way the compilers of a collection goabout organising material. For example, the compiler of a book of poemsmight group short poems or sonnets together and the editors of a book ofjokes may group one-liners separately from jokes with three points followedby a punchline.76