Psalms 43

Psalms 43:1-5

This psalm, it is likely, was passed upon the same occasion with the favour. In it, 1. He appeals to God concerning the injuries that were done him by his enemies, vers. 1, 2. 2. He prays to be restored to the free enjoyment of public ordinances again, and promises to make a good improvement of them, vers. 3, 4. 3. He endeavours to fill the tumult of his own Spirit, with a lovely hope and confidence in God, vers. 5.

1. JUDGE me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 2. For thou art the God of my strength: why doft thou cast me off? why go I mourning, because of the oppression of the enemy? 3. O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 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. 5. 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.

We have here, 1. David’s appeal and prayer to God. Though in God’s sight he would cry, enter not into judgment; yet, with respect to his enemies, he desired nothing more than to be tried at God’s bar; where his innocence would certainly engage him for his advocate, against the ungodly nation of Israel, and the deceit.

deceitful and unjust Saul; or his rebellious subjects, and his unnatural son. Note, Whether we desire it or no, there is a tribunal at which we must appear; and a judge at hand from whose existence there is no appeal: happy the soul that hath boldness in that day.

2. Under the most discouraging circumstances, he professes his fixed dependence on divine support: his foolish reason could hardly be reconciled to his oppressed situation, and his unbelieving fears were ready to prevail, v. 2. but he cleaves to God, as the God of his strength; and if so, omnipotence was his guard. Note, (1.) Under deep convictions there are often melancholy apprehensions in the children of God, as if they were subways: but till unchangeableness became variable, and omnipotence weak, that cannot be. (2.) It is often difficult to reconcile providences with promises; but with a little patience the mystery will be disclosed.

3. He prays for God’s guidance and direction; his light of Divine teaching, and his truth in the revealed word, to lead him safe through all his difficulties and dark providences, and once since to bring him back to that happy hill and blest abode, where God’s honour dwelled. Some interpret this of sending the Messiah, the light of the world, and his gospel, which is the truth emphatically, as these were the objects of longing deft to all the saints of old, who wished to see that blotted day: nor less do the faithful, in every age, cry for his appearing as the day-Star in their hearts, and to be led into deeper discoveries of his word of gospel grace; that by these they may be brought to God’s eternal landbary, and have their feet set on the heavenly Zion.

4. He promises hereupon to compass God’s altar; and his voice, like his harp in tune, should utter grateful sacrifice of praise to God; my God, he says, my covenant God, whom I have ever found gracious, good, and therefore true; and my exceeding joy, joy too big for utterance, and which time is too short to tell. Note, (1.) We have an altar it becomes us ever to approach with joy, remembering the sacrifice which Jesus hath offered, and the inestimable blessings we receive thereby. (2.) When we can say, my God, we shall be able ever to add, my joy, my exceeding joy; since compared with him and his love, we shall rejoice in other things as though we rejoiced not.

5. He concludes as before, with chilling his anxious heart, and calling his hope on that firm basis, whence nothing can move him. Note, Hope in God will never shame us, either in time or eternity.