02_Booij_351_351_374 30/10/15 13:01 Pagina 371 371 PSALM 118 AND FORM CRITICISM 371 outlook and its first person plural in vv. 4b-6, is a communal song. When in v. 4a its speaker says, “Manifold iniquities overwhelmed me”, he must be representing the community. In Psalm 66, on account of the rich offerings mentioned in vv. 13-15, the words in vv. 13-20 are thought to be those of a prominent person, possibly a king 87 — which might be correct. I think, however, that in their present post-exilic context (see vv. 8-12) they are better taken as statements of the congregation, spoken by its representative. Many came to the house of God to express their thankfulness, offer sacrifices, pay their vows. The speaker, in vv. 13-15, voices their willingness to do this generously, as is made possible by “saturation” (v. 12). In vv. 16-20, speaking for the righteous Israelite, he tells of what is behind the rituals: crying out to God for help, he found a benevolent hearing and was delivered from misery. Psalm 103 should also be mentioned now, being an expression of great thankfulness. Although the speaker, addressing his “soul” (vv. 1- 2), is clearly an individual, most of his song is about God’s goodness to his people. Therefore, in v. 3, the “iniquity” seems to be Israel’s iniquity as well as his own (cf. v. 10), and the “diseases” are likely to include, or even stand for, the people’s suffering under divine anger (v. 9) 88. Apparently, whether or not in a liturgical context, the speaker is representing the people. In Psalm 129 statements which Israel is called to make are not — as in Psalm 124 — spoken in the plural, but in the first person singular, referring to the people as a whole (v. 1). In Isa 12,1 a single speaker is announced who will praise YHWH “in that day”. This speaker must be Israel or the Israelites in general, since v. 4, clearly linked with vv. 1-3, announces a call to praise in the plural. In Isa 25,1, also, the first person singular refers to Israel or the Israelites generally. (c) In songs expressing communal thankfulness, just as in thanksgiving songs of the individual, we may find a narration, or narrations, of distress and salvation. The form and the extent of such accounts can be very different; see Pss 65,4 89; 66,9-12; 107,2- 3.4-7; 118,5-18.21-23; 129,1-4; Isa 25,1-5. Various adversaries are indicated as in individual songs of prayer and thanksgiving; see in 87 See e.g. EATON, Psalms, 243. 88 Cf. Isa 1,5; Jer 10,19; 33,6; Hos 5,13. 89 I think in this text !w[, “iniquity”, implies its consequences; cf. Pss 40,13; 130,8.