Longing for a Sign. Psalm 86:17 Revisited

Abstract

This paper proposes that the communicative function of Psalm 86:17 is about making the petitioner a sign that aims at transforming his enemies, bringing them to self-knowledge, and making them acknowledge the power of God through shaming. The approach for such a reading is rhetorical criticism, a method that goes beyond stylistics to the meaning being communicated, and how persuasive the argument is. The paper argues that shame in this context is the kind of disgrace that is painful and disorienting, and paves the way for a new orientation that influences good social relationship. The psalmist was not praying to God to simply show him a visible sign but to give him a sign that can make the enemies come to self-knowledge about who God is and what God has done in the life of the psalmist. Such prayer, by analogy, calls the Christian church to pray for a portent sign that will cause the enemies of the church to be put to shame in order to influence them to come to self-knowledge of God’s wondrous works.