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Imitation of God As a Principle for Ethics Today: a Study of Selected Psalms

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Imitation of God As a Principle for Ethics Today: a Study of Selected Psalms IMITATION OF GOD AS A PRINCIPLE FOR ETHICS TODAY: A STUDY OF SELECTED PSALMS by KAREN ELIZABETH DURANT A Thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham August 2010 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This study argues that imitation of God is a principle for ethical character and conduct in the world today. The contribution is to examine imitation of God in the Psalms; hence, eleven psalms, namely Psalms 8, 15, 25, 33, 72, 94, 101, 109, 111, 112 and 113 have been analysed using an integrated exegetical approach of historical-critical and literary-critical methods in combination with canonical-theological approach. The findings show, firstly, that humans are created in the image of God, and therefore they are to represent God’s character and conduct in the world. Secondly, God’s character and conduct are characterized by righteousness, justice ,which are demonstrated by God’s care and concern for, and liberation of the poor ,חסד and needy and oppressed. Thirdly, in addition to liberation, God’s righteousness and justice include punishment for the oppressors, which is expressed in the so-called psalms of “vengeance”, in which the psalmists’ call for God to exercise vengeance against their oppressors is a call for justice and righteousness to prevail. Fourthly, the human ethical response is motivated by the blessings and punishment of the righteous and the wicked respectively, the fear of the Lord and by offering praise to God. DEDICATION In memory of Rev. Dr. Lewin Williams who was an outstanding scholar and friend. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This PhD would not have been possible without the help and support of several persons, so I would like to thank the persons who have helped and supported me. Firstly, I would like to thank God for the opportunity to pursue this study and for God’s grace and goodness which kept me through to the end. Secondly, I would like to thank the Belize/Honduras District and the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas for granting me study leave to pursue this PhD. Thirdly, I would like to thank the groups and organizations that provided the funds for this PhD, the British Methodist Church, Friends Hall Farm St. Trust, Mylne Trust, Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, The Christian Education Trust, Solihull Methodist Church and the Birmingham Methodist District. I would also like to thank the following individuals who assisted me with funds, Rev. Prof. Frances Young and Dr. Bob Young, Mrs. Audrey Miller, Rachel Stephens, Sybil Phoenix, Rev. Mary Dow, Bertha Dunford and members of her class. Thanks to Rev. Donald Eadie and Rachel Stephens for their support and encouragement. Fourthly, I would like to thanks my supervisor, Rev. Dr. Knut Heim for his friendship, guidance, encouragement and support. I thank him for reading the various drafts of my thesis and for the suggestions and discussions which enabled me to formulate and express my thoughts. Fifthly, I would like to thank the University of Birmingham and the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical and Theological Education for providing the space for me to research and complete this PhD. Sixthly, thanks to Rev. Gideon Bakare for proof reading the final draft of this thesis. Finally thanks to my family and friends for their support, encouragement and prayers throughout this process. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background to the Study 1 1.2 Definition of Terms 1 1.3 Overview of the field 2 1.4 The aim of the study 3 1.5 Outline of thesis 3 1.6 Bible Quotations 4 Chapter 2 Literature Review 5 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 John Barton 5 2.3 Walter Kaiser 8 2.4 Bruce Birch 10 2.5 Eryl Davies 13 2.6 Gordon Wenham 18 2.7 Cyril Rodd 20 2.8 Christopher Wright 25 2.9 Walter Houston 30 2.10 Conclusion 35 Chapter 3 Methodological Approach 38 3.1 Introduction 38 3.2 Historical-Critical Approach 40 3.3 Literary-Critical Approach 46 3.4 Canonical-Theological Approach 49 3.5 Selected Texts – The Psalms 58 3.5.1 Why the Psalms? 58 3.5.2 The Psalms in Christianity and Judaism 61 3.5.3 Specific Psalms being studied 66 3.6 The Authority of the Old Testament for Christians 67 3.6.1 Authority of the Old Testament based on the New Testament 69 3.6.2 Other Approaches to the Authority of the Old Testament 72 Chapter 4 The Psalms in their Ancient Near Eastern Context 81 4.1 Introduction 81 4.2 Sumerian Prayers 81 4.3 Akkadian Prayers 82 4.4 Egyptian Prayers 84 4.5 Literary Style and content 85 Chapter 5 Imitatio Dei in the Psalms 87 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 Imitatio Dei and Imago Dei 88 5.2.1 The Meaning of Imago Dei 89 5.2.2 Psalm 8 and Imago Dei 102 5.2.3 Imago Dei and Imitatio Dei 106 5.3 Imitatio Dei and the King 107 5.3.1 The King in the Ancient Near East 108 5.3.2 The King in Psalm 72 109 5.3.3 The King in Psalm 101 116 5.4 Imitatio Dei in other Psalms 122 5.4.1 Psalm 15 122 5.4.2 Psalms 111 and 112 131 5.4.3 Psalm 113 134 5.5 Imitatio Dei and the Way of the Lord in Psalm 25 141 5.6 Conclusion 148 Chapter 6 The Character of God 150 6.1 Introduction 150 151 חסד God’s 6.2 152 חסד The Meaning of the term 6.2.1 in the Psalms 158 חסד God’s 6.2.2 in Psalm 25 160 חסד 6.2.2.1 in Psalm 33 166 חסד 6.2.2.2 6.3 God’s Righteousness and Justice 171 172 צדקה/צדק – The Meaning of God’s Righteousness 6.3.1 175 משפט – The Meaning of God’s Justice 6.3.2 6.3.3 God’s Righteousness and Justice in the Psalms 177 6.3.3.1 God’s Righteousness and Justice in Creation 178 6.3.3.2 God’s Righteousness and Justice in Deliverance 180 6.4 Conclusion 184 Chapter 7 The Vengeance of God and Imitatio Dei 186 7.1 Introduction 186 7.2 Vengeance in Psalm 94 188 7.2.1 Form, Structure and Canonical Position of Psalm 94 188 7.2.2 The Nature of God’s Vengeance in Psalm 94 191 7.3 Vengeance in Psalm 109 204 7.3.1 Form and Structure of Psalm 109 204 7.3.2 The Nature of God’s Vengeance in Psalm 109 208 7.4 Vengeance of God and Imitatio Dei 215 7.5 Conclusion 218 Chapter 8 Motivation for Imitatio Dei and for Being Ethical 219 8.1 Introduction 219 8.2 The Righteous and the Wicked 224 8.2.1 The Character of the Righteous and the Wicked 225 8.2.2 Motivation for the Righteous 227 8.3 The Fear of the Lord 235 8.4 Praise in the Psalms 237 8.4.1 Praise as Motivation for ethical character 239 8.5 Conclusion 243 Chapter 9 Imitatio Dei in the World Today: The Church’s Response to HIV and AIDS in Belize 245 9.1 Introduction 245 9.2 HIV and AIDS in Belize 247 9.3 The Churches’ Response to HIV and AIDS in Belize 250 9.4 Ethical issues involved in HIV and AIDS prevention 252 9.4.1 Forced sex 252 9.4.2 Poverty 253 9.4.3 Gender inequality 254 9.4.4 Stigma and discrimination 255 9.5 Imitating God in responding to HIV and AIDS in Belize 257 9.5.1 Dealing with issues of sex and gender 257 9.5.2 The Church as a Prophetic Voice 261 9.5.3 The Church as an open, accepting and forgiving community 264 9.6 Conclusion 266 Chapter 10 Conclusion 267 10.1 Summary of findings 267 10.2 Areas for future research 272 Bibliography 274 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HALOT - Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus JB - Jerusalem Bible JSOT - Journal for the Study of the Old Testament KJV - King James Version LXX - Septuagint MT - Masoretic Text NIV - New International Version NRSV - New Revised Standard Version REB - Revised English Bible RSV - Revised Standard Version RV - Revised Version UNAIDS - United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS UNGASS - United Nations General Assembly Special Session UNICEF - United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund WCC - World Council of Churches 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study This study was inspired by my experience as an ordained minister. I have encountered many persons who have a negative view of the Old Testament. Some believe that the Old Testament is about obeying rules and that it portrays a harsh and judgmental God, while the New Testament presents a God of grace.
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