Old Testament Essays (Dec 2015)
Psalm 56 read within the context of the history of David in 1 Samuel 21 and 27 and 29-30.
Abstract
The heading of Ps 56 connects the psalm with “David,” and specifically with the time when he was “seized” by the Philistines in Gath. The psalm can be described as a lament with a strong emphasis on trust in God and praise for his word. This article investigates the reasons why the editors made this connection with the experience of David and how the intertextual connections this heading creates modifies the hermeneutical horizon of the psalm. It is suggested that the psalm, through its heading, exonerates David from the fear that he experienced according to 1 Sam 21:13 and focuses the attention on the way in which he triumphed in a situation of unjust persecution through his trust in Yahweh in order to walk freely in praise of God.
