Psalm 3 Discourse

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Emotions

Emotional Profile

Emotions involve thoughts, feelings, and actions. The following visual shows the "emotional profile" of Psalm 2 in terms of what the psalmist is thinking, feeling, and doing.

Think-Feel-Do Chart

Notes

vv. 2-3

• THINK: The interjection ma (cognitive interjection expressing judgement) focuses the size of the horde. Outside of a sarcastic context, this would reflect an evaluation that the horde is dangerous.
• FEEL: A number of features point to a high level of distress: (1) In vv. 2b and 3a, rabim is the predicate, yet it is fronted in both clauses for constituent focus. The function is a rhetorical one: to repeat what was expressed through ma in v. 2a: ‘Many (not a few!) are...’. Such repetition and focus directed at God suggests desperation and distress. (2) David says that their taunts are directed his nefesh, a word which the psalmist frequently uses in place of a personal pronoun when expressing emotion. Semantically, this suggests that if the taunt is true, this would threaten his ‘vital self.’ This is indeed what's at stake: whether or not God will rescue him. This also reflects the degree of dependence and trust the psalmist has in God: to claim that God won't save him is not just to threaten David, it's threatening that which David perceives as constituting his most ‘real’ self. The natural reaction to this would be one of distress.
• DO: David expresses this distress through the interjection plus the presentation of his enemies. The purpose in presenting the problem to Yahweh is to encourage Him to intervene.

vv. 4-5

• THINK: All of the appellatives David applies to God are a result of his knowing God will save him. He knows this because this has been his past experience. This knowledge is also reflected in the phrase ‘his holy mountain.’ By this phrase, David implies God's endorsement of him, since God's ‘mountain’ is on Zion—David's city.
• FEEL: Taken together, the discourse function of vv. 4-5 is to correct v. 3. The opening waw ("but") cancels the presupposition behind the enemies' statement (that Yahweh will not protect him; this is also evident in the poetry). Verse 5 offers the reason for this: When David cries out, God answers. The fronting of "with my voice" focuses the entire utterance and confirms the fact that this is the grounds for the preceding statement. (This is also suggested by the timelessness of the verb). That God answers David presupposes that that God accepts David's cry for help (cf. Ps. 5:3). This is the very thing the enemies are questioning in v. 3, and so v. 5 also corrects v. 3. The contrast reflects a change in the emotion from distress to courage.
• DO: See Speech Act analysis.

vv. 6-7

• THINK: See feel’ below. Note how David describes the enemies in this verse vs. vv. 2–3. In vv. 2–3, they are referred to as ‘enemies’ (tsar), those who ‘rise against me’ and those who verbally attack him. Here, in v. 7, they are simply ‘people’ ('am).
• FEEL: Increased confidence may be seen from the following: (1) The psalmist plainly says ‘I will not be afraid’. (2) In v. 6, the content of the ki clause provides the reason for why David is able to sleep and awake unharmed; it is the timeless fact YHWH is the one who habitually supports him.
• DO: See Speech Act analysis.

vv. 8-9

• THINK: (1) The ki clause is grounding the speech act. It states the grounds on which David can call upon YHWH to rescue him, i.e. YHWH's past acts of deliverance. (2) David not only invokes the Divine Name, but calls God his God. David ends the Psalm with the thetic statement that YHWH is the one who saves his people. All of this reflects David's certainty that YHWH will keep His promises and rescue.
• FEEL: (1) Poetically, this verse has the most vivid imagery and sound symbolism, indicating a heightened sense of arousal which, in this context, must be confidence. (2) The volitives indicate that these future events must happen, viz., the Psalmist's confidence.
• DO: The Psalmist is plainly calling on YHWH to deliver (locution), but only has an expression (illocution) of the knowledge that He will respond.

Speech Acts

Speech Act Summary

Speech Act Chart