I think it makes one come across as pretentious when they type in German – or Latin! – when there is a perfectly acceptable English translation. Even in academic papers – I’m writing to English speakers – so why write in German when the English will do? Because I want to look like I’m intelligent? Well-read? Gimme a break! If you want to see how well-read I am, just look at my bibliography!

Anyway…

Richard – Of COURSE understanding the “setting in life” er, historical context, of a given passage helps in understanding it. But what I think Wes was saying – and I think it is a good point – is that it is a bit anachronistic to say that these psalms were written for an annual processional concerning the ark dating to David’s reign, when the Temple wasn’t made until after David’s time.
Even if these psalms were employed in some sort of extra-biblical ceremonies concerning the ark – and I think that given the rank paganism of the pre-exilic Jews, them conducting ceremonies not prescribed in Scripture is a good possibility – it is precisely because these would have been subsequent to David, (meaning) the writing of these psalms, that they can’t accurately be said to reflect any of the context in which they were written. The only way I see to make it fit would be to reject Davidic authorship…

Yours,
Ben

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Ben
Sanford, NC
TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA