Psalm 43 A psalm of David with
commentaries by Dennis Edwards
Many of the scholars of the pass consider Psalm 42
and 43 as one psalm. In 37 ancient manuscripts it is written as such.
The great majority of critics in the 19th century considered it as
one. The general agreement of the critics is that it was written at the time of
David’s flight from Jerusalem during the time of Absalom’s conspiracy against
him.
Psalm 43:1 Judge
me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man.
David could have prayed such
in relation to his persecution by Absalom. It can be applied to anyone under
persecution. Our persecutions often stem from the accusations of an enemy, be
he family, friend, or stranger. As Christians in an ungodly culture, a post
Christian culture as it is often called today, we can plead to God for
deliverance from an ungodly nation. The Antichrist will embody the fulness of
the “deceitful and unjust man.” However, many political leaders of the past, and
present, be they Hitler, Stalin, Mao, or many others, have persecuted God’s
people and sought their destruction.
Psalm 43:2 For You are the God
of my strength: why do You cast me off? why go I
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Under persecution we feel abandoned
by God. Our prayers seem to be unanswered. Heaven seems to be silent. God’s sweet
presence seems to be lifted and like Jesus on the cross we may cry out: My
God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Psalm 43:3 O send
out Your light and Your truth: let them lead me;
let them bring me unto Your holy hill, and to Your
tabernacles.
Jesus is the light of the
world. He that follows Jesus “shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life,” John 8:12. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He
is the true light. But men love darkness rather than light because their deeds
are evil, John 3:19b. For “the god of this world has blinded the minds
of them that believe not, less the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who
is the image of God, should shine unto them…For God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” 2 Corinthians
4:4&6.
God’s word is a light. “Your
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” Psalm 119:105.
Apostle Peter tells us God’s word is surer than a light in the darkness. If we
meditate on God’s word, and follow its counsels, eventually our hearts will be
enlightened with the presence of God, 2 Peter 1:19.
Psalm 43:4 Then
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.
When we pass through the
valley of the shadow of death, that valley will eventually come to an end. We
will once again come back into the light of God’s presence. When that happens, our
singing and praising will be even more joyous, because His presence will once
again be upon us. We will, as is find in Psalm 47:1, “Clap your hands,
all you people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Or as in Psalm
100:1-2, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord
with gladness: come before His presence with singing.”
In the New Testament,
Apostle Paul tells it in the following manner: “Rejoice in the Lord, and again
I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. “Be anxious for nothing; but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.
God will answer our sincere
cries for help. He will answer prayer. We will experience His presence once
again. But in the meantime, Apostle Paul tells us to walk in thanksgiving and
praise and fight the battles of the mind that war against our souls. He says,
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned,
and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with
you.”
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast
down, O my soul? and why are you
disquieted within me?
Do not be cast down. Do not
entertain discouragement or depression. Fight for your faith with praise and
thanksgiving. Resist the enemy and He will flee from you. Draw nigh to God
through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and God will come down and
rescue you from whatever pit of despondency you have fallen into, or whatever
problem you are encountering. Praise is the voice of faith. Keep praising no
matter what is happening and you will praise your way to victory. Your soul
will not be cast down or anxious, because God will set you on high once again.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 &
24, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you!” “Faithful is He
that has called you, who will also do it.” Amen! Trust Him. The answer is
coming. It’s on its way. Keep the faith.
2 Timothy 1:12b “For I
know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which
I have committed unto Him against that day.”
Or like Abraham who “staggered
not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was
able also to perform,” Romans 4:20-21.
Or like our forefathers of
the faith, who “all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” Hebrews 11:13.
“For they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country…But now they desire a better
country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their
God: for He has prepared for them a city,” Hebrews 11:14 & 16.
God has prepared for us a
city. “But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it
entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for them that
love Him,” I Corinthians 2:9.
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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