Vergifnis ter wille van JHWH se Naam (Ps 25:11)

 

Forgiveness for the sake of YHWH's Name (Ps 25:11)

 

 

D F O'Kennedy

Departement Ou en Nuwe Testament. Universiteit van Stellenbosch

 

 

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ABSTRACT

This article investigates the concept of divine forgiveness as illustrated in Psalm 25, especially verse 11. Psalm 25:11 is one of only four references in the Psalms where the Hebrew stem jls (forgive is found). Scholars agree that the petition for forgiveness in verse 11 forms the core or centre of the entire Psalm. This article will offer a possible answer to the following question: what motivates the supplicant to ask for forgiveness? In contrast to other forgiveness passages the Psalmist does not regard repentance or obedience as motivation for the petition. He rather emphasizes the fact that his sin is great (v 11b). The true motivation for this prayer for forgiveness lies in the Name and honor of YHWH (v 11a). He experienced YHWH as 'n faithful God in the past; therefore he has the courage and honesty to plea for forgiveness.

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Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

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1 Die skrywer kon geen ander bron vind waarin Psalm 25 spesifiek vanuit hierdie hoek bestudeer is nie. McKeating (1965:73, 80-81) bied wel 'n kort bespreking van Ps 25 saam met ander vergifnis Psalms.
2 Daar is wel sommige Psalms wat in samehang met mekaar bestudeer moet word soos bv. Ps 1/2, 9/10 en 42/43. Die Psalms waarin die term voorkom (Ps 25, 86, 103, 130) lewer nie sulke probleme op nie.
3 Vgl Eks 34:9; Num 14:19; 1 Kon 8:30, 34, 36, 39 en 50; 2 Kron 6:21, 25, 27, 30 en 39; Neh 9:17; Ps 25:11; 86:5; 103:3; 130:4; Klaagl 3:42; Dan 9:9 en 19; en Am 7:2.
4 Die spelling YHWH kan ook gebruik as vertaling of transkribering van die Hebreeus en soos algemeen in Engels voorkom. Die Afrikaanse spelling JHWH word verkies aangesien dit in onlangse uitgawes van HTS gebruik is (vgl HTS 62/2).
5 Daar word vanuit die 1933/53 AV aangehaal tensy anders vermeld.
6 Akrosties beteken dat die Psalm so gestruktureer is dat die verse met opeenvolgende letters van die Hebreeuse alfabet begin.
7 Vgl Ruppert (1972:576-577); Gerstenberger (1988:120); Bratcher & Reyburn (1991:244). Sien ook Van der Lugt (2006:267-268) se volledige opsomming van die tientalle verdelings wat deur geleerdes voorgestel word.
8 Möller (1932:252) wys ook op 'n chiastiese struktuur, maar sy verdeling verskil van Ruppert s'n: a (1); b (2-3); c (4-7); d (8-11); d' (12-15); c' (16-19); b' (20-21); a' (22).
9 Vgl Human (1996:87).
10 Möller (1932:253) tipeer die eerste helfte van die gebed as volg: v 4-7 (klag); v 8-10 (himne); v 11 (uiting van vertroue).
11 Die Psalm word ook getipeer as 'n geestelike gebed, 'n gebedslied, gebed van die gemeente, didaktiese psalm, wysheidspsalm, ens (vgl Human 1996:79-80).
12 In teenstelling met die meeste geleerdes dateer Terrien (2003:257) die Psalm kort voor die Babiloniese ballingskap en verwoesting van die tempel in 586/7 vC.
13 Brueggemann (1991:63-92) wys daarop dat die eenvoudige "torah-piety" van 'n wysheidspsalm soos Ps 1 bevraagteken en opgelos word in die klaagliedere en lofliedere. Volgens hom is Ps 25 'n goeie voorbeeld van so 'n Psalm wat verby die "torah-piety" beweeg.
14 Human (1994:94; 1996:80-81) wys op die ooreenkomste tussen Ps 25 en die optekening van die verbondsvernuwing in Eks 32-34. Die Psalmis smeek om vergifnis, omdat hy bewus is van die gebeure wat beskryf is Eks 32-34 sowel as die openbaring van God aan Moses (Eks 3:14-16).
15 Verse 12-14 vertoon raakpunte met die retribusieleer. Dit is veral die positiewe faset van retribusie wat aandag geniet, dit wil sê as iemand die Here dien, sal hy voorspoed geniet (Kuntz 1977:232).
16 Die 1983-AV sowel as die Nuwe Lewende Vertaling (NLV) vertaal die term met "vergewe".