The Lord is my light and my salvation …” (Ps 27:1) : Psalm 27 in the literary context of Psalms 25-34 (original) (raw)
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Psalm 27 has some unique interpretational difficulties. The article briefly refers to the various ways in which its arrangement of elements has been explained. It then attempts to understand the psalm within its literary context, the cluster Pss 25-34, in two ways: First, in understanding the features and contents of Ps 27 in terms of a linear reading of the sequence from Ps 25 to 27. Second, Ps 27 is considered in relation to Ps 31, the corresponding psalm in the chiastically arranged group running from Ps 25 to Ps 34. The implications of the connections between Ps 25 and Ps 31 are also considered in this phase. It is argued that the structure and contents in Ps 27 become more transparent within this literary context created by the editors of the Psalms.
Psalm 27—Translation, exegesis & hermeneutics
To many commentators this psalm appears to be in two parts. “Is this two psalms or one? If the latter, what explanation is there for the complete change of tone at vs. 7? If it is a composite psalm, why did someone join such different songs together?” (Interpreter’s). The aim of this paper is to show that the psalm was composed as one piece. Verses 1 to 6 are the exuberant words of David who had been rescued and who is now fearless. The past acts of his God have assured him that he is now safe. However, it should be noted that Wilcock identified two key ideas running through the psalm—confidence (verse 3 and 13) and seeking (verse 4 and 8). He wrote that “the four sections of the psalm crystallize around them, in a chiastic pattern like those which we found in Psalms 6 and 7: confidence/seeking//seeking/confidence”. This means the poem is not quite so easily divided into two parts; there are different feelings moving through David as he composes it. Sommer notes that “Intimations of distress can be found in the first stanza [verses 1–6], while elements of confidence underlie the worshiper’s plea for help in the second [verses 7–12]. The psalm’s movement back and forth between confidence and need, between believing in God’s reliability and worrying about God’s absence, reveals the essence of this psalm”. When we have prayed for help and we have received it, we are just like David in the opening verses—grateful and buoyantly confident. When a new threat advances towards us, we sometimes quaver. This psalm is therefore a portrait of that mixture of feelings.
Discerning the Voices in the Psalms : A Discussion of Two Problems in Psalmic Interpretation Part 2
2009
In the first installment of this two-part article that appeared in the November 2008 issue of this journal we presented Gerhard von Rad’s important redefinition of the proper object of a theology of the Psalms and his rejection of 19th century biographical approach to psalmic interpretation. Moreover, in view of the popularity of the psychologizing biographical approach, we noted that von Rad’s position raises two important problems in psalmic interpretation. The first concerns the validity of the traditional psychologizing biographical approach to the interpretation of individual psalms. In connection with this problem, we briefly outlined the history of the mirror of the soul approach to the Psalms and presented N. H. Ridderbos’s important qualifying statements to the traditional psychologizing biographical exposition of the Psalms. In this second installment we would address the second problem, which concerns the status of the Psalms as the inscripturated Word of God: is the Psal...
The Substance of Psalm 24: An Attempt to Read the Bible after Brevard S. Childs
2015
This book contributes to the theory and practice of Biblical interpretation by engaging in an interpretation of Psalm 24 inspired by a particular understanding of Brevard Childs' "canonical approach": an understanding centred on the concept of "theological substance." Sumpter shows how the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of Psalm 24 cohere into a single vision by reading the text according to the a dialectic between "witness" and "reality." An initial "synchronic" analysis of the psalm's poetic structure is then related to a "diachronic" reconstruction of the tradition history that lead to the final form. The question is then posed concerning the primary forces at work in this history of composition, a question which leads to reflection on the Trinity, first in se and then pro nobis. This latter dimension takes us back to the text, as its "Davidic" nature is further analysed in relation to the books of Samuel, the Psalter, and Isaiah. Finally, a contemporary actualization of the Psalm by Eberhard Jüngel is compared to its interpretation in Patristic exegesisin order to probe deeper into the mysterious subject matter of the text.
The Substance of Psalm 24 : An Attempt to Read Scripture after Brevard S. Childs
2015
This thesis seeks to contribute to the theory and practice of theological interpretation by explicating the inner coherence of B. S. Childs' "canonical approach" and by exemplifying that approach in an interpretation of Psalm 24. Part 1 concerns the theory. In this section I argue that Childs' approach rests upon a particular understanding of the nature of the Biblical text. In short, it has a twofold function, that of witnessing to the reality of God and that of shaping the community of faith in light of that reality. The God to whom it witnesses is himself involved in this witnessing activity in that he both evokes and infuses the tradition with his Spirit so that he may be known. The hermeneutical implication is that interpretation must attempt to grasp the reality "behind" the text while respecting the particular form in which that reality has been rendered. The result is a multi-level approach to interpretation involving a continuous dialectic between the witness (verbum) and its content (res). The affirmation of the nature of Scripture as an ongoing vehicle of revelation also implies the significance of the history of faithful Christian interpretation. Part 2 seeks to exemplify this approach by showing how such a multi-level interpretation of Psalm 24 is both possible and fruitful for our understanding of the reality to which it witnesses. I achieve this by moving through several stages. After reviewing contemporary methodology, I first provide a poetic analysis of the Psalm and conclude that it witnesses to the economy of God in a bid to call Israel to realize its true identity. I then provide a hypothesis of how the final form of the psalm is a result of a tradition historical process with its roots in the pre-exilic temple liturgy. This historical perspective not only clarifies the poetic shape of the psalm, it provides a bridge to discussing the question of the nature of the reality experienced within Israel's cult. I conclude that there is a parallel between the structure of this reality and the shape of Ps 24. I then both confirm and attempt to deepen our understanding of this reality by following canonical pointers internal to the psalm to three other bodies of text: Samuel, the Psalter, and Isaiah. Key to this broader context is the agency of the David found in Ps 24's superscription. I conclude my analysis by suggesting how a better grasp of the divine economy in the light of Christ may help us better understand the inner unity of Ps 24 itself. ii AUTHOR'S DECLARATION I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of the University of Gloucestershire and is original except where indicated by specific reference in the text. No part of the thesis has been submitted as part of any other academic award. The thesis has not been presented to any other education institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University.