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, in view of its heading, serves to
exonerate David from the fear that he experienced according to 1
Sam 21:13. It also focuses the attention of its readers on the way in
which David triumphed in a situation of unjust persecution through
his trust in Yahweh in order to walk freely in praise of God.
