Psalms 43

1 ¹Vindicate me, O God, and ²defend my cause against an ungodly people, from ³the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!

2 For you are ⁴the God in whom I take refuge; why have you ⁵rejected me? Why do I ⁶go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 ⁷Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your ⁸holy hill and to your ⁹dwelling!

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

5 ¹⁰Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? ¹¹Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalms 43 Commentary

Chapter 43

David endeavours to still his spirit, with hope and confidence in God.

- As to the quarrel God had with David for sin, he prays, Enter not into judgment with me, if Thou doest so I shall be condemned; but as to the quarrel his enemies had with him, he prays, Lord, judge me, and in thy providence appear on my behalf. If we cannot comfort ourselves in God, we may stay ourselves upon him, and may have spiritual supports, when we want spiritual delights. He never cast off any that trusted in him, whatever fears they may have had of their own state. We need desire no more to make us happy, than the good that flow from God's favour, and is included in his promise. Those whom God leads, he leads to his holy hill; those, therefore, who pretend to be led by the Spirit, and yet turn their backs upon ordinance, deceive themselves. We are still to pray for the Spirit of light and truth, who supplies the want of Christ's bodily presence, to guide us in the way to heaven. Whatever we rejoice or triumph in, the Lord must be the joy of it. David applies to God as his never-failing hope. Let us pray earnestly, that the Lord would send forth the truth of his word, and the light of his Spirit, to guide us into the way of holiness, peace, and salvation. The desire of the Christian, like that of the prophet in distress, is to be saved from sin as well as sorrow; to be taught in the way of righteousness by the light of heavenly wisdom, shining in Jesus Christ, and to be led by this light and truth to the New Jerusalem.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 26:1
• 2. See 1 Samuel 24:15
• 3. Psalms 5:6
• 4. Psalms 31:4
• 5. See Psalms 44:9
• 6. Psalms 42:9
• 7. Psalms 40:11; Psalms 57:3
• 8. See Psalms 2:6; Psalms 46:4
• 9. Psalms 84:1
• 10. See Psalms 42:5
• 11. Psalms 42:5, 11

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 43

This psalm is without a title; but may well enough be thought to be one of David's: and the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Ethiopic, and Syriac versions, call it a psalm of David, and the latter adds, when Jonathan told him that Saul intended to kill him; and certain it is, that it was wrote by the same person, at the same time, and upon the same occasion as the preceding, seeing some of the same expressions are used in it, see Ps 42:1, title; and some take this and the preceding to be but one psalm, and this might be written with that on account of the rebellion of his son Absalom.