Thanksgivings

  The sacrifices of thanksgiving (cf. Ps 100:1 and 116:13,17) provide a clear Sitz im Leben for the thanksgiving psalms. Their form is regular with a short INTRODUCTION (or no Introduction at all) which expresses the worshipper’s intention to thank God. The main content is a NARRATIVE describing their distress, & cry to God for help and deliverance. The final element is either a solemn DECLARATION either of the worshipper’s intention to give thanks or of God’s love or a PRAYER requesting his continued aid in the future.