Psalms 43:3

3 Send out your light and your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me back to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.

Psalms 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.

Psalms 43:3 In-Context

1 God, when you hand down your decision, let it be in my favor. Stand up for me against an ungodly nation. Save me from those lying and sinful people.
2 You are God, my place of safety. Why have you turned your back on me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I beaten down by my enemies?
3 Send out your light and your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me back to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God. I will go to God. He is my joy and my delight. God, you are my God. I will praise you by playing the harp.
5 My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and my God.
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