Yahweh
During the time of David, Israel’s wish for an illustrious king who would deliver its people from evil and herald a lasting period of prosperity and safety was inculcated through the communities’ worship of and dedication to Yahweh. Within the Book of Psalms, this ideology is rooted in the attribution of super-human traits to the king of Israel. This ascription highlights the close connection between Yahweh and the king as the royal ideology of the time regarded the king as a divine individual. However, it is important to note that this characterization is not to be taken literally, but metaphorically. It is clear that while words such a “child” (Ps 2:7) and “womb” (Ps 110:3) are used to characterize the unique relationship between Yahweh and
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Here, we as readers are witnesses to a rather intimate moment between the king (David) and the LORD (vv. 1-19). Further, we see David acknowledging his humanness (vv. 20-45) which truly speaks to the crucial need for Yahweh’s support and guidance – despite being a royal and a king. This Psalm solidifies David as king and subsequently his royal lineage to the authority of the LORD. This aspect parallels Yahweh’s victory over creation that is characterized in Psalm 89. In Psalm 89 Yahweh not only calls David by name, but also as “my [His] servant” (v. 3). This depiction is repeated three additional times within the text of this Psalm (vv. 20; 39; and 50). Other references to the king of Israel as the servant of Yahweh also occur in Psalm 132 (v.10) and 144 (v. 10) respectively. While these Psalms depict the king as a subordinate to Yahweh, they more importantly boast about Yahweh’s magnificence and how much of an honor it truly is to be His “servant.” This is exhibited in Psalm 132 as its text not only isolates Zion has Yahweh’s chosen dwelling place (vv. 13-14), but it also it tells of the glory that will be upon …show more content…
The king of Israel is supposed to embody and reflect the true glory of God, who reigns over all creation. This reflection is seen in Psalm 72 (v. 2) where the psalmist refers to the people of Israel as not belonging to the king, but rather as belonging to Yahweh. Thus, the king is affirmed as Yahweh’s chosen representative, and as such he is expected to remain loyal and to uphold the divine law (Ps 89:30-32; 101:1;
Here, we as readers are witnesses to a rather intimate moment between the king (David) and the LORD (vv. 1-19). Further, we see David acknowledging his humanness (vv. 20-45) which truly speaks to the crucial need for Yahweh’s support and guidance – despite being a royal and a king. This Psalm solidifies David as king and subsequently his royal lineage to the authority of the LORD. This aspect parallels Yahweh’s victory over creation that is characterized in Psalm 89. In Psalm 89 Yahweh not only calls David by name, but also as “my [His] servant” (v. 3). This depiction is repeated three additional times within the text of this Psalm (vv. 20; 39; and 50). Other references to the king of Israel as the servant of Yahweh also occur in Psalm 132 (v.10) and 144 (v. 10) respectively. While these Psalms depict the king as a subordinate to Yahweh, they more importantly boast about Yahweh’s magnificence and how much of an honor it truly is to be His “servant.” This is exhibited in Psalm 132 as its text not only isolates Zion has Yahweh’s chosen dwelling place (vv. 13-14), but it also it tells of the glory that will be upon …show more content…
The king of Israel is supposed to embody and reflect the true glory of God, who reigns over all creation. This reflection is seen in Psalm 72 (v. 2) where the psalmist refers to the people of Israel as not belonging to the king, but rather as belonging to Yahweh. Thus, the king is affirmed as Yahweh’s chosen representative, and as such he is expected to remain loyal and to uphold the divine law (Ps 89:30-32; 101:1;