Psalm 6

The sixth psalm is a psalm of David, and belongs to the series of the seven penitential psalms. Today, the Psalm is classified into the series of Lamentations.

Genus

Since Augustine's Enarrationes in the Psalms the Psalms for a long time, last still by Edward King was counted until the advent of the form-critical method in the early 20th century to the penitential psalms.

Since then the psalm but rather are classified by Hermann Gunkel in the series of individual action songs and sometimes clarified in this classification as " sick Psalm ".

Structure

In the research are many different approaches to the organization of the Psalmens. The Old Testament scholar Anthony Kuckhoff has collected all of these approaches. These are:

The first verse is just Einleitungsvers and is therefore not included in the outline.

Comments

Heading (v. 1)

The psalm scripture can be interpreted in different ways:

• As a note for the conductor
• For musical performance ( lyre )
• Eschatological in regard to the end times (which defines the possibly incorrect translation of the Septuagint close )

Especially scholasticism was happy emphasized that the number eight occurs frequently in the Bible. For example, the circumcision after eight days or eight survivors of the flood.

History of interpretation

For Martin Luther the sixth psalm is very important. On the basis of which he makes several key points of his theology that:

• The hostility of the enemies should not be accepted by the enemy, but by God. Who look at the people who would impatiently
• The worshiper should be afraid of the wrath of God and ask that he be punished as a child of God
• Only those who considered himself lost, could receive the help of God.

Use

In the Rule of St. Benedict says:

" But at Prime on Monday let three psalms, namely, Psalm 1, Psalm 2 and Psalm 6 "

The French composer Henry Desmarest processed the psalm Domine ne in furore with in his work " Grands Motets Lorrain ".