Psalms 43

Vindicate me, O God,

and plead my cause

against an ungodly nation.

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful

and unjust man;

43:1 The last verse of this psalm and the last verse of 42 are identical. It seems probable that both psalms were written by the same person at about the same time. Some Hebrew manuscripts combine these two psalms into one.⚜

2 For you are the God

of my strength.

Why do you cast me off?

Why do I go about mourning

because of the oppression

of the enemy?

3 Oh, send out your light

and your truth!

Let them lead me,

let them bring me to

your holy hill and

to your tabernacle.

43:3 A beautiful prayer every human being on earth should make. We need a guide to show us the way to God’s holy heaven. His light and truth must be that guide. If we follow anything else we will infallibly go astray.⚜

4 Then I will go to the altar

of God, to God,

my exceeding joy.

Yes, I will praise you on the harp,

O God, my God.

43:4 Let us permit the author to teach us where true joy is found. It is not in the world, in things, or in self, but in God alone. If we do not find it in Him it is certain that we will not find it anywhere. In v 2 he speaks of mourning; here he speaks of joy and delight. See 2 Cor 6:10. Compare Isa 53:3; with John 17:13. Joy and sorrow can co exist in the same heart at the same time.⚜

5 Why are you cast down,

O my soul?

And why are you restless

within me?

Hope in God, for I will yet

praise him,

who is the health

of my countenance,

and my God.