Abstract
ABSTRACT Psalms of lament characteristically include affirmations of trust and sometimes a vow to praise God in the future. This article questions the motivation behind such vows by looking carefully at whether future praise is conditional on God's positive response and what other rhetorical devices are linked to the promise God makes. Attention is given to the nature of praise and lament psalms (considering the power dynamic) and foundational principles of Persuasion Theory. Five biblical psalms of lament are considered, with particular attention to their use of a vow and other persuasive tactics to encourage God to intervene. Although a vow of future praise (and other persuasive tactics) may be used, the psalmist's most critical means of persuasion (as apparent in Ps 88) is the character of the psalmist's covenant-partner. Keywords: Psalms Of Lament, Vows, Persuasion, Rhetorical Devices
Highlights
This article questions the motivation behind such vows by looking carefully at whether future praise is conditional on God’s positive response and what other rhetorical devices are linked to the promise God makes
Attention is given to the nature of praise and lament psalms and foundational principles of Persuasion Theory
The disruptive agenda includes various persuasive tactics which the psalmist employs. These become apparent when the language in some lament psalms is carefully studied with particular attention to the use of a vow of future praise
Summary
Praise and lament are two responses to the covenant relationship between God and God’s people. The differences between these two modes are discussed below, with particular focus on the power differential and the reciprocal promises which underlie the covenant relationship. 742 Dickie, “God Responds to the Psalmist,” OTE 34/3 (2021): 741-767 voice) and the latter having a disruptive agenda, aiming to undermine “official theology” (or “the public transcript”).[1]. The disruptive agenda includes various persuasive tactics which the psalmist employs. These become apparent when the language in some lament psalms is carefully studied with particular attention to the use of a vow of future praise. The discussion concludes by drawing together the main findings from the theory and its application to the five psalm examples
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