Beeld van die 'verborge gesig' van God : 'en moet asseblief nie u aangesig vir u kneg verberg nie!' (Ps 69:18a)

Abstract

One of the Psalm texts which expressis verbis refer to the hiddenness of the face of God is Psalm 69; and specifically Psalm 69:18. Approximately two and a half thousand years ago the scribes / theologians who created the basic text of Psalm 69 also must have experienced a feeling of desolateness and hiddenness on the part of the deity. They laboured under the plight of their feeling of isolation. They therefore gave witness of the feeling of the hiddenness of God. Before a more detailed analysis is given of the specific verse in Psalm 69, it is necessary to first give a general overview of the image of the 'hidden God'.