Cult-Functional Approach

History of Interpretation of Psalms
Form Criticism ← Cult-Functional Approach → Myth and Ritual Approach

Method

1. Accepts literary forms as discovered by form critical procedures.
2. Insists on cultic interpretation.
3. Lays emphasis less upon form than upon function. Specifically, many of the psalms are interpreted in the light of the role of the king. As there are royal psalms of enthronement (2, 39, 110), of wedding (45), of victory in battle (18, 144), so also there are royal laments, uttered by the king in behalf of the nation in times of national crisis (89:38-51).
4. Sacral kingship. The king is considered a “veritable incarnational of the national god” and understood to be representative head of the nation. “All that concerned him and his house also concerned the people; nothing which happened to him was a purely private affair” (Mowinckel).
5. Many psalms (circa 44) belong to annual “Enthronement Festival” in which Yahweh was enthroned as king guaranteeing the stability of the New Year in nature and in politics. Components of festival included:
   1. Yahweh’s fight against cosmic chaos.
   2. Victorious Yahweh ascends Mt. Zion.
   3. Yahweh acclaimed king.
   4. Yahweh confirms Davidic covenant.
   5. Yahweh fixes fate of coming year.
6. Actualization: Effected annually. Not magic; past and future become a present reality.
7. History of tradition: later democratized by the temple priests for the use of individual laymen.

Scholars

Kingship and the Psalms, The Psalms in Israel's Worship

Sigmund Mowinckel, John Eaton, et al., Weiser (although covenant festival), Kraus (election of David and Zion).