The splendour of forgiveness in Psalm 32 A dissertation by BEN CELLIERS Presented to the Faculty of Theology and Religion in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MTh in the Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures at the University of Pretoria Pretoria December 2019 Study Leader: Prof. D.J. Human DECLARATION I, Ben Celliers, now declare that the dissertation The splendour of forgiveness in Psalm 32 reflects my own understanding and research on the above title and that all references utilised and quoted are referenced in full and appropriate acknowledgements are given. Ben Celliers December 2019 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to my study leader Professor Dirk Human, who guided me with to become the best researcher I can be. His patience and guidance made this dissertation possible. To my loving wife, Rochelle, thank you for your love and encouragement. I will be forever thankful. For the times that we could spend together in proximity, even on holidays, working and relaxing together helped me tremendously. You are my bright and shining star, and I am thankful for having you in my life. I want to thank my parents, Ben and Hannetjie, for their wise counsel and financial support. My upbringing and believe in me made me the person I am today. Your belief in me helped me pursue my dreams, and your support made it all possible. To my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ paved the way for me to write this dissertation and who supported me with the grace to do so, may You alone receive glory for every word written here. 3 FOREWORD I have fallen in love with Psalm 32 when journaling through the psalms as a teenager. The aim was to rewrite each psalm and to make notes. Psalm 32 stood out among other psalms. Aspects of Psalm 32 that came to the fore were its personal tone. The author is sincere and honest in his account of his circumstances, and the YHWH addressed him directly, by promising proximity and guidance. I do hope that the reading of this in-depth study of Psalm 32 will yield similar results in modern-day readers. 4 CONTENTS DECLARATION ......................................................................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... 3 FOREWORD .............................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 8 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 8 1.2. Problem setting ........................................................................................... 9 1.3. Aim and objectives ................................................................................... 10 1.4. Methodology .............................................................................................. 10 1.5. Hypothesis ................................................................................................. 11 1.6. Outline of chapters ................................................................................... 12 1.6.1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 12 1.6.2. Synchronic analysis ........................................................................... 12 1.6.3. Diachronic analysis ............................................................................ 12 1.6.4. Theology of Psalm 32 – Splendour of forgiveness .......................... 12 1.6.5. Synthesis ............................................................................................. 12 1.7. Orthography and terminology .................................................................. 12 1.7.1. Reference system ............................................................................... 12 1.7.2. Abbreviations ...................................................................................... 13 1.7.3. Bible translations ............................................................................... 14 1.7.4. List of terms ........................................................................................ 14 1.8. Literature review ....................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2 – SYNCHRONIC ANALYSIS .............................................................. 21 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 21 2.2. Genre and Sitz im Leben .......................................................................... 21 2.3. Structure .................................................................................................... 22 2.3.1. Text and translation............................................................................ 22 2.3.2. Outline ................................................................................................. 24 2.3.3. Detail analysis ..................................................................................... 30 2.4. Synthesis ................................................................................................... 96 CHAPTER 3 – DIACHRONIC ANALYSIS ............................................................... 97 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 97 3.2. Historical Sitz im Leben ............................................................................ 97 5 3.2.1. Introduction to the splendour of forgiveness (Ps 32:1) .................. 98 3.2.2. Introduction to the splendour of forgiveness (Ps 32:2) .................. 99 3.2.3. The agony without forgiveness (Ps 32:3) ....................................... 101 3.2.4. The agony without forgiveness (Ps 32:4) ....................................... 103 3.2.5. Personal confession as a last resort (Ps 32:5) .............................. 104 3.2.6. Call to prayer and example of prayer (Ps 32:6-7) ........................... 106 3.2.7. Dialogue interjected by YHWH (Ps 32:8) ........................................ 107 3.2.8. Dialogue interjected by YHWH (Ps 32:9) ........................................ 108 3.2.9. Final warning and call to worship (Ps 32:10) ................................. 109 3.2.10. Final warning and call to worship (Ps 32:11) .............................. 110 3.3. Tradition history ...................................................................................... 110 3.4. Redactional history ................................................................................. 111 3.4.1. Psalm 32 ............................................................................................ 111 3.4.2. Psalm 25-34 ....................................................................................... 112 3.4.3. Book I - Psalm 1-41 ........................................................................... 112 CHAPTER 4 – THEOLOGY: SPLENDOUR OF FORGIVENESS ......................... 114 4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 114 4.2. Splendour of forgiveness ....................................................................... 114 4.2.1. Forgiveness and guilt ....................................................................... 114 4.2.2. Spreading forgiveness ..................................................................... 116 4.2.3. Forgiveness and humankind’s relationship with YHWH ............... 118 4.2.4. Forgiveness and iniquity ................................................................. 120 4.2.5. The nature of man and the invitation .............................................. 122 4.2.6. The image humankind has of YHWH .............................................. 125 4.2.7. Without forgiveness – silence versus joy ...................................... 127 4.2.8. Without forgiveness – state of ‘innermost being’ .......................... 129 4.2.9. Forgiveness and ‘loyal love’ ............................................................ 131 4.2.10. Forgiveness and positioning ........................................................ 133 4.3. Synthesis ................................................................................................. 135 CHAPTER 5 – SYNTHESIS ................................................................................... 136 5.1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 136 5.1.1. What was the study about? ............................................................. 136 5.1.2. What was the problem-setting, aim and objectives, methodology, chapter outline? ............................................................................................ 137 6 5.2. Research results ..................................................................................... 140 5.2.1. This study’s meaning for the modern-day study of Psalm 32? .... 140 5.2.2. This study’s meaning for the understanding of forgiveness? ..... 141 5.2.3. Future work ....................................................................................... 142 5.3. Final conclusion and hypothesis ........................................................... 142 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 144 7 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION 1.1.