Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 69:1 (NA 2018)
Article: Retribution In The Canonical Psalter
Author: Steffen G. Jenkins

TynBull 69:1 (2018) p. 149

Retribution In The Canonical Psalter1

Steffen G. Jenkins

([email protected])

Prayers against enemies have caused concern to readers of the Psalms since earliest times. This dissertation approaches such prayers in their context within the Psalter as a book, paying attention to the shape and structure of the whole Psalter, and asks whether such an approach can shed light on a close reading of prayers for retribution.

We begin with an overview of historic responses, examining authors in a variety of cultural and confessional settings (Jewish and Christian; patristic, medieval, Reformers, Puritans and Moderns; European, American, African, Asian; Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Dispensational, and Adventist). We find everything from a priori ethical rejection through to a cautious appropriation of such prayers. Surprisingly, ethical qualms are not determined by context: persecuted believers in Africa and pre-modern commentators are as likely to be wary of these texts as contemporary westerners because of a perceived tension with the ethics of the New Testament. Some prayers seem built on the antithesis of the gospel of grace and especially to betray self-righteousness.

We examine the history of canonical readings of the Psalter and note that it is ancient, contrary to recent scholarly accounts. Higher criticism marked a low point in whole-Psalter readings, rather than predating them altogether. We find a lack of studies that engage the question of imprecations within their context in the Psalter: almost every other interpretive grid has been tried instead.

Psalms 1 and 2 are often seen as introductory and do indeed introduce enemies and retribution. Moreover, Psalm 3 immediately introduces David at prayer against his enemy Absalom. The promises and warnings of Psalms 1 and 2 concerning the righteous and those who attack the anointed king are brought into focus in David. We

TynBull 69:1 (2018) p. 150

notice that David is introduced to the Psalms, via the superscription of Psalm 3, as a sinner pleading for grace. The placement of Psalms within the Writings invites further reflection on how Israel should model its prayers about exilic captors on David’s prayers concerning enemies. This will prove illuminating when the difficult Psalm 137 is examined in Book V.

We offer seven tentative ‘theses�...