The Future David of Psalm 101: Davidic Hope Sustained in Book IV of the Psalter
David ‘Gunner’ Gundersen
David ‘Gunner’ Gundersen (PhD, Southern Seminary) is Lead Pastor at
BridgePoint Bible Church in Houston, Texas.
Abstract: Since Gerald Wilson published The Editing of the Hebrew Psalter, scholars have debated his proposal regarding the structure and message of the Psalter. Central to the debate is the role and status of the Davidic line in Books IV–V (Psalms 90–150). Many follow Wilson, arguing that the Davidic line and Davidic hope virtually disappear in these final two books. Others disagree, but they tend to emphasize royal and Davidic evidence within Book V. This paper explores the message and function of Psalm 101 within Book IV, arguing that its intra-book links, Davidic title, royal voice, lamenting tone, future orientation, inter-psalm allusions, and strategic placement make it a central psalm sustaining Davidic hope in Book IV. Therefore, the יהוה מלך psalms at the core of Book IV (93–100) do not elevate the reign of Yahweh only to castigate the line of David. The reign of Yahweh rather upholds the line of David, answering the suspicions of Psalm 89 where God was questioned because he had bound his visible earthly rule to the fallen Davidic throne.
Key Words: Psalms, Hebrew Psalter, Book IV, Gerald Wilson, canonical, David, royal psalm
