The Writings: Psalms

Abstract

The WritingsPsalms Christopher T. Begg, David A. Bosworth, Bradley C. Gregory, OSST J. Edward Owens, Thomas Hieke, and Paul R. Redditt 433. [Psalms; Lutheran Tradition] Christopher König, "David as Example: Psalm Exegesis and Secular Authority in Early Modern Lutheranism," NTT 72 (2018) 153-70. K.'s article analyzes the depiction of the biblical King David in the political thought of M. Luther and early Lutheranism. Luther drew his images of David primarily from his exegesis of various psalms. For Luther, David's faith made him the premier biblical model of a monarch. Early Lutheran sermons depict David as an example of a good administrator. The sermons considered by K. admonish Lutheran magistrates and princes to support the church and to obey the law, thus legitimating, while also circumscribing, secular government and princely rule. The example of David also provided early Lutheran preachers with a means for criticizing unlawful or despotic rulership and thereby contributed to the early modern history of the concept of freedom. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 434. [Psalms] June Dickie, "Singing the Psalms: Applying Principles of African Music to Bible Translation," Scrip 116 (2017) 74-89. The psalms were composed in order to be sung, and translated psalms should also be rendered in such a way as to be easily singable. To do this requires an understanding of the characteristics of indigenous song and rhythm. Against this background, D.'s article seeks to synthesize some important principles of African (particularly Zulu) music, and notes certain errors made by previous translators in their renditions of biblical texts intended for singing by African congregations. Next, D. cites various examples drawn from a recent study that attempts to apply the principles previously presented by her to the translation of a number of psalms into isiZulu. The hope is that sensitivity to features of African (Zulu) music will facilitate a translation of the psalms that communicates the aesthetic beauty, rhetorical power, and memorability of the originals to the fullest extent possible. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] [End Page 132] 435. [Psalms of Lament] June Dickie, "African Youth Engage with Psalms of Lament to Find Their Own Voice of Lament," JTSoA 160 (2018) 4-20. The biblical psalms of lament show certain characteristics that can assist African youth struggling with various issues to voice their own laments. In this empirical study, "pain-bearers" from various sectors in South Africa (refugees, AIDS sufferers, and members of the LGBT community) participated in short workshops where they studied Psalms 3 and 13. They then composed their own laments using features of biblical laments: complaints, petitions, requests for justice, and an honest expression of their mood (often oscillating between negative and positive statements). Analysis of the biblical and contemporary lament compositions shows that they include elements considered essential by trauma therapists (establishing safety, reconstructing the trauma story, and restoring connections with one's community) and lament researchers (restoring the voice of a subject, providing a sense of justice, and connecting with God), and thus could result in biological healing, a possible application of the work of neuroresearchers. One might then suggest that the expression of lament has the potential to promote wholeness for sufferers. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 436. [Psalms] Ko Ming-him, "Torah Meditation: A Theological Theme for the Editing of the Psalter," Jian Dao 50 (2018) 1-16 (Chinese). As a "Torah in miniature," the Psalter has a redactional orientation that invites the reader to enter into a meditation on the Torah that brings about a transformation of life. Against this background, this paper discusses Sumero-Akkadian scribal education, exploring how this training was designed to influence the religious beliefs of the scribes in training. It further suggests that the Levitical singers who were responsible for editing the Psalter can be situated in a context similar to that of Mesopotamian scribal training. The paper argues as well that the invitation to Torah meditation was one of the prime concerns of those who edited the Psalter, as becomes clear in Psalms 1, 19, and 119. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 437. [Psalms] Ruth Poser, "Ja...