Movement, Dialogue, and Time in Pss 42–43. A Background in Gen 1–2

Abstract

A careful exegetical and theological study of the rhetorical structure and of the grammatical, syntactic, and semantic levels of Psalms 42–43 highlights the importance of the desire for God and for being with him in his dwelling, as well as the dynamic that runs through these psalms and the three principles on which it is based: movement, dialogue, and time. These three principles also appear in Genesis 1−2, where the relationship with God and the presence of God in his sanctuary stand out prominently. A joint reading of both texts, carried out through the method of intertextuality, makes it possible to perceive in the psalms a significant number of elements characteristic of the creation narrative, along with certain distinctive nuances, and to confirm some of the conclusions reached by the careful exegetical and theological study of Psalms 42–43. The first is that the intertextual study of the aforementioned texts underscores the centrality of Psalm 42:9 within Psalms 42–43, a centrality likewise emphasized by nume rous exegetical analyses of these psalms. The second and third are that the path traversed by the psalmist is filled with sorrowful and joyful moments from his past, present, and future, yet is permeated by a profound desire for God, thus constituting a journey marked by fullness.