Psalm 22 possible chiasm: Death is off the table.

LHooge posts:

Psalm 22 – “My God, My God, Why hast Thou Forsaken Me?:

.

This Psalm has 2 parts.  The first part is a chiasmus.  The second part is not. 

The chiasmus has a famous beginning (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”), a good center, and a nice end. 

Here’s a basic outline of the chiasmus:

A:  A cry for help:  no answer

B:  Israel

C:  Personal (an “I/me” section)

D:  Bulls, lion, bones

E:  Dogs, ‘pierce’, bones

F:  A prayer for God’s help

E’:   - , sword, dog

D’:   – , lion, oxen

C’:  Personal (an “I/me” section)

B’:  Israel

A’:  Cried for help:  heard

I particularly like the connections through D2, E2′, E’2”, and D’2” :  …  think ‘sharp’, as in e.g., ’teeth’, as in ‘open lion’s mouth’.

Interestingly, D3 and E3′ (“bones”) have been left unmatched in E’ and D’.  I wonder why?  Is it because of the section’s closer association with death?  If so, then ‘death’ is absent in the latter sections.  …  Death is off the table.  Life is in play  …  ?..

        -CONTINUED HERE