Psalm 43:3

3 Sende dein Licht und deine Wahrheit; sie sollen mich leiten, mich bringen zu deinem heiligen Berge und zu deinen Wohnungen.

Psalm 43:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 43:3

O send out thy light and thy truth
By light is meant, not the law, as Arama; but rather, as some Jewish F16 interpreters understand it, the Messiah, the sun of righteousness, and light of the world; who is the author of all light, natural, spiritual, and eternal; and whose coming into the world is often signified by being sent into it. The Spirit of God also is the enlightener of men, both at first conversion and afterwards, and is sent down into their hearts as a comforter of them, by being the Spirit of adoption. The Gospel of Christ is a great and glorious light, which, with the Holy Ghost, is sent down from heaven; though perhaps here rather may be meant the light of God's countenance, the discoveries of his favour and lovingkindness, which produce light, life, joy, peace, and comfort: and by "truth" may be meant, either Christ himself, who is the truth; or the Gospel the word of truth; or rather the faithfulness of God in the fulfilment of his promises; and so the words are a petition that God would show forth his lovingkindness, and make good his word, which would be of the following use:

let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy
tabernacles;
that is, to the place of public worship, where the tabernacle was, the "hill" where it was, which seems to be Mount Zion; and is called "holy"; not that there was any real holiness in it; only relative, because of the worship of God in it; and the "tabernacle" is called "tabernacles", because of the holy place and the most holy place in it; the one being the first, the other the second tabernacle, as in ( Hebrews 9:2 Hebrews 9:3 ) ; and this hill and tabernacles represented the church and ordinances of God, to which such who are possessed of light and truth are led.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 Midrash Tillim, & Jarchi, in loc.

Psalm 43:3 In-Context

1 Schaffe mir Recht, o Gott, und führe meinen Rechtsstreit wider eine lieblose Nation! Von dem Manne des Trugs und des Unrechts errette mich!
2 Denn du bist der Gott meiner Stärke. Warum hast du mich verworfen? Warum gehe ich trauernd einher wegen der Bedrückung des Feindes?
3 Sende dein Licht und deine Wahrheit; sie sollen mich leiten, mich bringen zu deinem heiligen Berge und zu deinen Wohnungen.
4 So werde ich kommen zum Altar Gottes, zu dem Gott, der meine Jubelfreude ist, und werde dich preisen mit der Laute, Gott, mein Gott!
5 Was beugst du dich nieder, meine Seele, und was bist du unruhig in mir? Harre auf Gott! Denn ich werde ihn noch preisen, der das Heil meines Angesichts und mein Gott ist.
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