The Book of Psalms
Psalm 43
Psalm XLIII · Vol. II, pp. 1013–1014
1 The psalmist, praying to be restored to the temple, promiseth to serve God joyfully. 5 He encourageth his soul to trust in God.
1 Judge2 me,a O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly3 nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.4
1 Lowth and a large number of valuable MSS. join this to the preceding psalm.—C.
2 Judge. Who but the Christ would venture to call for judgment?—C.
a Ps.7.8;35.1;75.7. 1 Pe.4.19.
3 Or, unmerciful.
4 Heb. from a man of deceit and iniquity, 1 Sa.xviii. xxiv. 2 Sa.15.31;16.23.
2 For thou art bthe God of my strength: cwhy dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out thy dlight and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy eholy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
d Ps.119.49,50. 2 Sa.7.25. Mi.7.20.
4 Theng will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy:5 yea, hupon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God.
5 Whyi 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.
i Ps.42.5,11.
Notes
Ver. 1. The meaning is, not that the writer desired the Lord to try and judge him as a culprit; but rather to interfere in his behalf—to save him from the unjust accusations of the wicked. The psalmist was conscious that he was guiltless in regard to the charges brought against him, and therefore he made his appeal from unjust men to a just and righteous God. He does not represent himself as absolutely pure, or perfectly holy before God; but simply as innocent of the crimes laid against him by men. P.
Ver. 2. Why dost thou cast me off? This expostulation was exemplified in the crucifixion, Mat. 27. 46, when our Lord cried with a loud voice, as if it were a special thing that all should hear, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' C.
Reflections.—When men wrong us and God deserts us, our only refuge is still in God himself. He may frown, but he cannot cease to love his people, however hard they find it to believe so amidst deep convictions and raging lusts. It may be for a time difficult to reconcile God's providences with his promises; but with a little patience the mystery will be unveiled. Such as love Christ's appearance shall have their cause judged far sooner than their enemies wish, and far better than themselves conceive. Next to God himself, the saints love nothing more dearly than the ordinances of his grace. But none can approach ordinances aright unless they exercise faith in their hearts; and it is for his sake the saints delight to be there. Men never attend ordinances aright but when they have fellowship with Christ as their altar, their atonement, their food, their God, their joy. Intimate fellowship with God cannot but tune our hearts and tongues to his praise. And the more we deal with God by faith, we shall see the more sin and evil in inward despondency.