The poor in the Psalms: A variety of views (original) (raw)
Related papers
Good News for the Poor: The Quest for Human Flourishing in the Psalms
The Baptist Theological Journal Vol 32, 2023
The Hebrew Bible reflects a rich association of images and metaphors for human flourishing, not least in the book of Psalms. Beginning with some of these iconic images, the article then turns to focus on seven psalms. In each psalm there is the juxtaposition of two groups, namely the wicked or the powerful and a collection of their victims, namely the poor, widows, orphans and the afflicted. But what is most striking about these psalms is that the writer is making his appeal on behalf of the latter group rather than on behalf of himself. The Psalmist calls out to God to intervene in society and to make his presence known in the form of justice and mercy. The prayers are proleptic as the poet anticipates the actions of God in the reordering of our world to create a place where all the people of God can flourish. Key to this appeal, is the bestowal of honour and dignity by means of some anticipated action of God and his agents. The conclusion in this article is that it is the righteous people of God who are to be the vehicle of God's gracious actions and of bearing the good news of an inclusive human flourishing.
A Polysemiotic Approach to the Poor in the Psalms
Discussion of the language of the poor in the Psalms has centered primarily on the various meanings of n ]U and 13U. Yet a proper understanding of the poor in the Psalms necessitates an analysis of terms that extends beyond the tradition ally considered terms related to poverty, *1ΰ and 13U. As a result, a broader concept of poverty in the Psalter needs to be established, with various terms that comprise the word field noted. Such an exercise will establish the semantic do main of poverty as expressed in the Psalter. To further refine the meaning, or meanings, behind the terms that appear in the word field, the polysemiotic na ture of each term demands attention. 1 A polysemiotic approach offers a helpful and necessary tool in deciphering the multivalent nature of each term.
The Psalms and economic justice
In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi
Economic justice is a global issue; and in many areas of the world, it is a life-or-death issue. It is well known that the biblical prophets address economic inequities, poverty, and oppression; but the book of Psalms has not been viewed as a resource for promoting economic justice. The purpose of this article is to examine relevant texts in the Psalter that speak to a theology of economic justice. The objective is to construct an initial framework for talking about the Psalms and economics in the context of today’s church. Texts from the Psalms that mention the poor, the weak, the orphan, the widow, the alien are identified and examined exegetically and theologically. These texts are classified and outlined logically according to the following topics that emerged from the texts themselves: the poor and the covenant community, the nature of poverty in the psalter, God’s vindication of the poor, worship and justice, and the psalter’s encouragement of the poor. Results of the research...
The Psalms of Solomon: Texts, Contexts, and Intertexts, 2021
Pages 81-110 in The Psalms of Solomon: Texts, Contexts, and Intertexts, ed. Patrick Pouchelle, G. Anthony Keddie, and Kenneth Atkinson, EJL 54 (Atlanta: SBL Press, 2021).
Psalm 72 in light of the psychological theories of poverty
Mtshiselwa, N., 2024, ‘Psalm 72 in light of the psychological theories of poverty’, Verbum et Ecclesia 45(1), 1-10, 2024
Prior to the 1980s, various theories of poverty have been proposed by psychologists, ranging from, but not limited to, ‘naturalizing perspective’, ‘constitutionally inferior perspective’, or ‘nativist perspective’; to the ‘McClelland approach’ (McClelland 1961, 1965, 1973); to the ‘attribution theory’; and to Lewis’ (1975) culture of poverty theory. The theories tease out issues of the accumulated environmental deficits and psychiatric disorders, such as depression as well as the lack of ambition and mental drive to achieve success. However, from the 1980s, psychologists returned to the Lewis’ culture of poverty theory. The World Bank Development Report for 2000–2001’s expansion of Sen’s (1999) theory, which placed emphasis and/as three-pillars on ‘security’, ‘empowerment’ and ‘opportunity’ led for one, among other psychological bodies, the American Psychological Association to consider various conceptualisation of the theories of poverty. The paper tests the psychological theories of poverty against the background of the historical-literary read poetic text of Psalm 72. Does a poetic reading of Psalm 72 bear a psychological meaning when read within the framework of psychological theories of poverty? Firstly, the paper investigates psychological theories of poverty prior to 1980s to the present. Secondly, in a poetically and historically read Psalm 72, the psychological presuppositions are teased out. In the end, the paper submits with caution that when read within the framework of psychological theories of poverty, the poetically read Psalm 72 produces psychological meaning, which contributes value to the reading of Biblical poetic texts.
This article sets out to investigate how an African liberationist paradigm could be used in South Africa as a theoretical framework that shapes an inquiry into the issue of poverty in the Book of Psalms. The poor in the Davidic collections of psalms (cf. Ps 10; 23, 72; 109) will therefore be examined within the South African context in order to probe the liberating possibilities that the psalms could offer to poor black South Africans, and most importantly when the text is read in dialogue with Tsepo Tshola’s liberationist song Indlala [Starvation]. Firstly, this article discusses an African liberationist paradigm with the view to anchor the reading of psalms within a theoretical framework. Secondly, within that framework, this article uses the song Indlala as a hermeneutical tool to unlock the reality of poverty in South Africa. Thirdly, guided by an African liberationist framework the article teases out the categories and voices of the poor in the psalms. In the end, this article argues that the reading of poor in the Psalms, particularly with an African liberationist lens could have liberating implications for poor black South Africans.
Psalms 69:33-34 in the light of the poor in the Psalter as a whole
Verbum Et Ecclesia, 2007
The Psalter has very often been regarded as the prayer book of the poor. In the Psalms God is portrayed as the saviour of the poor, their hope, their stronghold and liberator-whether these are prayers of an individual or prayers of the community. The high concentration of the term(s) for the "poor" in the Psalter, in relation to the rest of the books of the Old Testament (OT), indeed indicates a profound affinity for the "poor" in the Psalter, which is an indication that the Psalter underwent a redaction of the "theology of the poor". In this article the focus will be on Psalm 69, as it seems to have undergone a "redaction of the poor". The main focus will be on the verses 33 and 34, as they, specifically, contain terminology of the "poor". Special attention will also be given to the different terms used for the poor in this text.