The Writings: Psalms

Abstract

The WritingsPsalms Christopher T. Begg, John M. Halligan, Fred W. Guyette, Thomas Hieke, and Francis M. Macatangay 471. [Theology of the Poor in the Psalter] Johannes Bremmer, "Armentheologie und Intertextualität. Zum Zusammenhang von Thema, Textbezügen und Enstehung des Psalters," Intertextualität, 51-72 [see #775]. In the Psalter, poverty and the poor are a prominent theme that comes to expression in a total of 39 psalms. At the same time, the psalms in question exhibit a variety of terms in their articulation of the theme as well as in their depiction of the situation of the poor, the pray-er's stance toward them, and what the pray-er asks God to do regarding the poor (and those who oppress them). B. explores these differences of nuance via a consideration of the interplay among Psalms 25, 34, and 35 at the close of Book 1 of the Psalter, the "duplication" of Psalms 14 and 53, and the paradigmatic function of Psalm 107 as the opening text of Book 5, in each instance seeking clues about possible developments/changes in the psalmic discourse about the poor over time. In the concluding portion of his essay, B. attempts to correlate such developments with what is known about the evolving socio-economic situation in Yehud in the Persian period.—C.T.B. 472. [Psalms] David Willgren Davage, "Why Davidic Superscriptions Do Not Demarcate Earlier Collections of Psalms," JBL 139 (2020) 67-86. In research on the formation of the "book" of Psalms, there are four points of current consensus regarding the use of Davidic superscriptions in this process: These superscriptions are seen as (1) having little value for the interpretation of individual psalms; but (2) providing clues for the diachronic formation of the collection; (3) as fundamental in the overall Davidization of the Book of Psalms; and (4) important for the overall structure of the book. There is, however, some tension between the second and third of the above points, with the observed Davidization bearing the potential to overturn the use made of Davidic superscriptions in diachronic reconstructions. In this article, I revisit the issue by analyzing the way the superscriptions appear in the DSS, as well as in Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, and argue that the variances observable among these witnesses indicate that the Davidic superscriptions are not reliable clues to the existence of earlier collections of psalms within the Psalter. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 473. [Imprecatory Psalms] Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford, "Human Violence in the Imprecatory Psalms," ExAud 34 (2018) 19-36. This article will first discuss the scriptural "status" of the imprecatory psalms and psalmic words; second, it examines the poetic literary style of these psalms; third, it will present various scholarly and ecclesial interpretations of the imprecatory language in the Psalter; fourth, it will consider the ethical dimensions of such language; and finally it will suggest options for reading and appropriating the imprecatory language of the Psalter into the life of believing communities today. [p. 21] This article ends where it began—with the words of Phyllis Trible. The imprecatory psalms are heartfelt, raw, angry, and difficult. Do they need to be heard? Do they need to be studied and preached and taught? Do they yield an insight into the nature and character of the God we worship? The answer to all three questions is a resounding "yes." Trible writes this of the biblical text—all of it—even the stories and passages she found difficult [End Page 160] to integrate into her feminist journey: "I will not let go this book of words unless and until it blesses me. I will struggle with it. … I shall hold fast for a blessing. … [But] I am under no illusion that the blessing will come on my terms—that I will not be changed in the process" ("Take Back the Bible," 425-31). The imprecatory words of the Book of Psalms require wrestling on our part. And we are justified in demanding a blessing from them. [Adapted from author's conclusion, p. 36—C.T.B.] 474. [Use of the Psalms in the Early North African...