Psalms 43:4

4 And I shall enter to the altar of God; to God, that gladdeth my youth. God, my God, I shall acknowledge to thee in an harp; (And I shall go to the altar of God; to God, who made the time of my youth happy/to the God of my joy. God, my God, I shall praise thee on the harp.)

Psalms 43:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 43:4

Then will I go unto the altar of God
Which was in the tabernacle, either of burnt offerings, or of incense, there to offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for mercies received. The altar under the Gospel dispensation is Christ, on which such sacrifices being offered, are acceptable to God, ( Hebrews 13:10 Hebrews 13:15 ) ;

unto God my exceeding joy;
as over the mercy seat, upon a throne of grace, and as his covenant God; or this is exegetical of the altar, which is Christ, God over all, blessed for ever; and who is the object of the unspeakable joy of his people, in his person, righteousness, and salvation;

yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God:
the harp is a musical instrument, used in that part of public worship which concerned the praise of God under the former dispensation, and was typical of that spiritual melody made in the hearts of God's people when they sing his praise, see ( Revelation 5:8 ) ( 14:2 ) .

Psalms 43:4 In-Context

1 God, deem thou me, and separate thou my cause from a folk not holy; deliver thou me from a wicked man, and guileful. (God, judge thou me, and plead my case before an unholy people; save thou me from the wicked, and the deceitful.)

2 For thou art God, my strength; why hast thou put me aback, and why go I sorrowful (and why must I go about in sorrow), while the enemy tormenteth me?

3 Send out thy light, and thy truth; those led me forth, and brought me into thine holy hill, and into thy tabernacles. (Send out thy light, and thy truth; they shall lead me forth, and bring me to thy holy hill, and to thy Temple.)

4 And I shall enter to the altar of God; to God, that gladdeth my youth. God, my God, I shall acknowledge to thee in an harp; (And I shall go to the altar of God; to God, who made the time of my youth happy/to the God of my joy. God, my God, I shall praise thee on the harp.)

5 my soul, why art thou sorry, and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet I shall acknowledge to him; that is the health of my cheer, and my God. (My soul, why art thou feeling so sad? and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet shall I praise him; he is my true help, and my God.)