Psalms 43:2

2 because you [are] the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning because of [the] oppression of [the] enemy?

Psalms 43:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 43:2

For thou [art] the God of my strength
Who being the strong and mighty God was able to deliver and save him, as well as to plead his cause; and was the author and giver of strength, natural and spiritual, to him; and was the strength of his heart, life and salvation; and is a good reason why he committed his cause unto him;

why doest thou cast me off?
this is the language of unbelief: it being what was not in reality, only in appearance: the psalmist was ready to conclude he was cast off and rejected of God, because he was afflicted and left in a desolate condition by him, and he did not immediately arise to his help and deliverance, and had withdrawn the light of his countenance from him; but God does not cast off or reject any of his people; they always continue in his love, and in his covenant, and in the hands of his Son; they are always in his sight and family, and shall never perish eternally; and whoever casts them off, or casts them out, he will not;

why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
(See Gill on Psalms 42:9).

Psalms 43:2 In-Context

1 Judge me, O God, and plead my case against an unfaithful nation. From a man of deceit and wickedness rescue me,
2 because you [are] the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning because of [the] oppression of [the] enemy?
3 Send your light and your truth; they shall lead me. They shall bring me to {your holy mountain} and to your dwelling places.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, {my surpassing joy}, and I will praise you with lyre, O God, my God.
5 Why are you {in despair}, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I will again praise him, {my salvation} and my God.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.