David, a henotheist?

[ClementofRome]

Psalm 138:1-2

KJV [1] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
[2] I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

I am thinking that David's language above reflects a henotheistic belief as opposed to a monotheistic belief. It seems to me with the history of the Hebrews/Israelites at his disposal, that it would have been impossible for him to have a henotheistic worldview. Additionally, it seems unlikely that he is speaking hypothetically about the "gods."

What would an alternative interpretation of these verses look like?

 

[RVincent]

(Psa 138:1) A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.​

before the gods. Before the 'elohim (Plural). Also used for "judges" as representing God. Deu. 21:6; 22:8-9, 28. It is also used of Moses (Ex. 7:1).

 

[Crazy Liz]

I think most Jewish and Christian scholars say monotheism didn't fully supplant henotheism in Judaism until the Second Temple period.

 

[2Timothy2]

I think David is here showing his contempt for these idols and false gods, while at the same time praising and worshipping the one, true God. I don't think we can lay the charge of having henotheistic beliefs. It seems more likely that he is doing this praise in the face of those who deny God. David, being "a man after God's own heart", would most likely had a correct view of who God is and whether or not the idols were real gods. I think the burden of proof lies at the feet of those who claim he was hentheistic. I just don't see it anywhere else in his writings.

Also, it is not universally agreed upon that the term here "gods" refers to deities. Some say it means angels, some kings or magistrates.

 

[Crazy Liz]

It seems more likely that he is doing this praise in the face of those who deny God. David, being "a man after God's own heart", would most likely had a correct view of who God is and whether or not the idols were real gods.

This doesn't have anything to do with henotheism, but having recently read some of David's precatory Psalms, I don't think he had such a correct view of God.

[bible]psalms 139:19-22[/bible]

[bible]matthew 5:43-48[/bible]

Apparently, David could be a man after God's own heart without understanding some aspects of God very well at all.

 

[Sephania]

G-d himself said he loved Jacob and hated Esau.



He also recognizes other "gods" See Exodus 12:12 for starters , then take a look through a concordance and see where else he does. See the song of Moses in Exodus 15 it is still used today.

 

[2Timothy2]

Point taken Crazy Liz. But that is poetry, and as such, it uses symbolic language to make its point. This may be an area where the Pharisees got their mistaken idea of "Love you friend, but hate your enemy", from misunderstanding what the Psalmists were trying to say. I do not mean to imply that David's theology was absolutely and perfectly accurate. Who's is?

I guess, to me, it seems off somehow to think he believed in the actual existence of other gods. Paul refers to "gods", but we certainly wouldn't say he believed in their actual existence. (1 Cor. 8:5) I still think David believed that the God was the one and only true God, no others actually existed. Like I said above, the burden is to prove he believed otherwise. IMO

 

[davidoffinland]

From Finland. Please remember the "elohim" has many other meanings than "god." It is interesting that the New Jewish Study Bible from Oxford, many of these verses have divine ones instead of god. The reason for this is the concept of the Throne Room with the LORD sitting on the main Throne with other elohim around...angels etc.

The picture is One G-D, YHWH, and His retinue surrounding the Throne. The problem is with the word "elohim" and how to define it in the context.

Shalom, David.