Abstract:
Psalms and their Sitz (e) im Leben. An analysis in view of Psalms 55
and 74: It is hermeneutically unthinkable to expose any Old Testament text, without
taking its historic and/or cultic Sitz im Leben into consideration. This
especially applies for the texts of the psalms. But, vague formulations and
generalised language, though, make this effort in the psalms extremely
difficult. In view of the eclectic chosen examples of Psalms 55 and 74, this
article shows how several Sitz(e) im Leben are identified by exegetes for
the understanding of a psalm. More than one historical situation could
have instigated the origin and content of a psalm. To determine the socalled
"original" Sitz of psalms, is therefore almost impossible. But, this
state of affairs should not cause the exegete or preacher to be sinical about
exegetical method or diachronic research of psalm texts. Various identified
Sitz(e) behind the text should create a common dealer - an athmosphere or
interpretation-direction - which create afreedom in the exegete or reader's
mind to identify suitable situations for the reinterpretation or actualisation
of a psalm. In this regard, a literary or textimmanent reading is not complete
without diachronic exegesis. Despite uncertainty about the so-called
"original" Sitz im Leben behind most psalms, exegetes should be more than
enthusiastic to struggle with the search for a historic or cultic Sitz(e)
behind the text. This will add value to the understanding of every psalm.
