Psalms 43

1 in finem filiis Core ad intellectum

2 Deus auribus nostris audivimus patres nostri adnuntiaverunt nobis opus quod operatus es in diebus eorum in diebus antiquis

3 manus tua gentes disperdit et plantasti eos adflixisti populos et expulisti eos

4 nec enim in gladio suo possederunt terram et brachium eorum non salvavit eos sed dextera tua et brachium tuum et inluminatio faciei tuae quoniam conplacuisti in eis

5 tu es ipse rex meus et Deus meus qui mandas salutes Iacob

6 in te inimicos nostros ventilabimus cornu et in nomine tuo spernemus insurgentes in nobis

7 non enim in arcu meo sperabo et gladius meus non salvabit me

8 salvasti enim nos de adfligentibus nos et odientes nos confudisti

9 in Deo laudabimur tota die et in nomine tuo confitebimur in saeculum diapsalma

10 nunc autem reppulisti et confudisti nos et non egredieris in virtutibus nostris

11 avertisti nos retrorsum post inimicos nostros et qui oderunt nos diripiebant sibi

12 dedisti nos tamquam oves escarum et in gentibus dispersisti nos

13 vendidisti populum tuum sine pretio et non fuit multitudo in commutationibus nostris

14 posuisti nos obprobrium vicinis nostris subsannationem et derisum his qui in circuitu nostro

15 posuisti nos in similitudinem gentibus commotionem capitis in populis

16 tota die verecundia mea contra me est et confusio faciei meae cooperuit me

17 a voce exprobrantis et obloquentis a facie inimici et persequentis

18 haec omnia venerunt super nos nec obliti sumus te et inique non egimus in testamento tuo

19 et non recessit retrorsum cor nostrum et declinasti semitas nostras a via tua

20 quoniam humiliasti nos in loco adflictionis et cooperuit nos umbra mortis

21 si obliti sumus nomen Dei nostri et %si; expandimus manus nostras ad deum alienum

22 nonne Deus requiret ista ipse enim novit abscondita cordis quoniam propter te mortificamur omni die aestimati sumus sicut oves occisionis

23 exsurge quare dormis Domine exsurge %et; ne repellas in finem

24 quare faciem tuam avertis oblivisceris inopiae nostrae et tribulationis nostrae

25 quoniam humiliata est in pulvere anima nostra conglutinatus est in terra venter noster

26 exsurge adiuva nos et redime nos propter nomen tuum

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.

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.