Die verbondsverhouding as basis vir klag en lof in Psalm 42 en 43

Abstract

Psalms 42 and 43 form a unity and can be regarded as one song containing elements of lament as well as of praise. Thus, however contradictory, lament and praise are integrated in a unity as both elements have a common ground, namely a specific relation between God and his people. As is customary in most other songs of lament it is not stated clearly what the relation is. Most commentators of this song do not offer more than a statement of the relation in general terms. This fact may relate to the recent trend to date the covenant in the exilic or post-exilic period, a trend which has come to the fore especially since the study of Perlitt (1969) about the covenant in the Old Testament. In this article an attempt is made to indicate that there is a covenantal relation underlying Psalm 42 and 43, a covenantal relation which is not institutionally or formally dominated and which is not only group-orientated but also strongly individual-orientated.