Exploding the Limits: Form and Function in Psalm 22

Abstract

The aim of this study is to show how the methods of form criticism and rhetorical criticism can be utilized for theological interpretation of a particular psalm (Psalm 22), and further, how attention to the function of poetic language complements and deepens insights to which formal analysis points. While both the 'complaint' and the 'vow of praise' sections far exceed the proportions usual in an individual lament, the essential integrity of the psalm's form is indicated by the fact that a single theme—the possibility of and conditions for rendering praise to God—is maintained throughout. An exegetical section suggests that (1), in the present context, the so-called 'confession of trust' serves less as an affirmation of faith and more as an expression of how completely the old mythos of salvation has broken down; (2) the 'eschatolo gical character' of the vow of praise (often taken to be a sign of the psalm's lateness) evidences a shift occurring, not primarily in the cognitive domain, but within lan guage itself—this is an instance of the creative or 'resymbolizing' (P. Ricoeur) capacity of poetic language, which precedes exploration through discursive language. A final section considers a further process of resymbolization, namely that involved in the evangelists' use of this psalm, and suggests how attention to the psalm's form and language lays down guidelines for a Christian understanding of faithful suffering.