PS 78 LITERARY CRITICISM

Psalm 78 Psalms were composed and used by Israelites for praying either at Home or in the temple of Jerusalem. Many writers of Psalms classify them as King David productions because of the patriarchal honor they owe to him though some of them were composed far after he has died. From a variety of artists in different times of Israelites life ,the common characteristic from all of Psalms sources is the love Israelite had for Law, Covenant and God . Psalms have different objectives and aims to serve :PRAISING GOD, Confession (INTERCESSION) , Psalm for INSTRUCTIONS (Moral, ethics) .For instance Ps78 is among instructional Psalms through both Pardon, mercy and forgiveness of God and the Human uncleanness . Many Psalms talk of people ,history, culture ,places ,habits ,vengeance, segregation, relationship of People to People or God to Israelites as models for Christians to cope with or to avoid so as to fit in their society and to save their souls. With regards to the format and the content, Ps78 is a good case to study Literary Criticism both old and new . Ethical approach objectively this Ps is to warn Israelites(Christians)about their behavior to remember the wonders of God unto them, it is the largest of this kind/Please remember your background so as to change your ways of living.(7) "They might set their hope in God ,and not forget the works of God ,but keeps his commandments." Historical criticism: It talk of history from the time they left Egypt to the time David became King. It talks of History of Egypt(12 and 43-45)mainly sins of Human and God's Salvation and Revenge . Biographical Criticism: the writer of this Ps is a good reader "what heard from and known from fathers will not be hidden to their children... ,dark saying of old..., will open my mouth in parable,..(1-4) Formalism/New criticism This Ps has introduction ,the speaker shows the source of his speech, it develop the core of the story from all the limits history ,spaces so as to come to the main message of his forgiveness by choosing Jude ,Zion and David(68-72). The text organization gives the value of literariness to this Ps. Mythological criticism (12-16)This literature talk of religion ,marvelous that God has done, he divided sea, split the rocks, Psychological Criticism (19-22)God is not happy of his people sin ,untrustworthiness: "so afire kindled against Jacob and anger also came up against Israel. Reception Response Theory the reader of this PS understands really how god is merciful there are a lot of examples of his people sins to which God's forgiveness is applied (37-44).The reader of this is convinced on how God loves his people though some time gives punishment for after all redemption (49-52) Marxism/sociological criticism thought this theory might seem not very old but this people in Egypt they were slaves doing tiring works so they were not satisfied as far as over exploitation (Colonialism)by their chiefs is concerned. New criticism this text is ancient but shows how God rejected Joseph and Ephraim's family to chose Zion ,to point David his servant ,all for a better organization of Israelite society.