Unknown
Psalm 43
Scripture (KJV)
1Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Summary
Psalm 43 is a short continuation of Psalm 42, sharing the same refrain about a cast-down soul. The psalmist asks God to judge his cause against an ungodly nation and deliver him from the deceitful and unjust. He prays for God’s light and truth to lead him to God’s holy hill and tabernacles, promising that then he will go to the altar of God, to God his exceeding joy, and praise Him on the harp. The psalm closes with the same self-preaching refrain as Psalm 42: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
The major themes are justice, guidance, light, truth, and hope. Practically, the psalm teaches that the path from a cast-down soul to exceeding joy is led by God’s light and truth and ends at His altar. The great lesson is that hope in God is the answer the soul gives to its own discouragement.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 43
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against the ungodly. Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust. You are the God of my strength; why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me and bring me to Your holy hill and tabernacles. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; upon the harp I will praise You, O God my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does Psalm 43 complete the prayer begun in Psalm 42?
- 2What does it mean to ask God’s light and truth to lead me?
- 3Where do I need to go to the altar of God as my "exceeding joy"?
- 4How can I preach to my own soul as the refrain does?
Related Psalms
Psalm 42
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
A soul thirsty for God, preaching hope to itself in despair.
Read morePsalm 84
“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!”
A pilgrim’s longing for God’s courts; one day there is better than a thousand.
Read morePsalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Courage from seeking God’s presence and waiting patiently on Him.
Read morePsalm 63
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Thirst for God in the wilderness; His lovingkindness is better than life.
Read morePsalm 130
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”
Psalm 130 is one of the "Penitential Psalms" and a Song of Ascents, beginning in the depths and rising to hope.
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