Bible Commentaries
Psalms 43

Verses 1-5

Psalms 43

A Deliverance Plea

Scripture v. 1-5:

Exiled, still away from home, and the house of God in Jerusalem, David desired to be vindicated from the taunting of his enemies, that he might return to the house of God to worship again in Jerusalem.

Verse 1 is a Davidic plea for the Lord to judge him and plead his cause as just before and against an ungodly nation. He asked for Divine deliverance from the deceitful, traitorous, and unjust man Absalom, who through greed and covetousness had sought to seize the throne and kingdom of Israel from David by leading an insurrection against him. He had experienced "How sharper is a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!" With cruel ingratitude his son had turned his back upon him, sought to have him killed, Ephesians 6:1-3.

Verse 2 affirms that the "Guardian-God" is his strength; And he inquires why God has taken away or cut off his good favor from him. Directly he asked the Lord why he had to go on mourning all the day, or day after day, because of the oppression of his enemies. He knew that God was strong enough to subdue them in a moment. He trusted the "fortress-God," as his protector, and his rock. He cried for delivery, please, Psalms 42:9; Psalms 27:1; Psalms 31:4; Psalms 37:39; Isaiah 26:4.

Verse 3 pleads "O send out thy light and truth, let them lead me," an eloquent plea for direction of life, Psalms 19:14. He asks that the light (favor and good will) of God bring him again to the holy hill and tabernacle of God in Jerusalem; From this he had been gone too long, ; Exodus 15:13; Psalms 78:68; Psalms 132:13. The "curtains" of the ark resided at this time on "the holy hill," in Zion, 2 Samuel 7:2.

Verse 4 pledges that then David would go up to the altar of God, there to sacrifice to his God of exceeding (excelling) joy, Psalms 42:8. He further pledged to praise God upon the harp, even praise Him as his personal God, as Paul trusted Him, and praised Him, 1 Corinthians 9:15; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:12. He longed not so much to go to his home or his palace, as to the house of God; O, that men would have such longing today, Psalms 127:1; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 5 concludes with a formal appeal to his soul, Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11. He asserts that there is no real reason for his soul to be fretting, agitated, disquieted, etc. He could still trust in and call upon the life­giving and sustaining (elohim) God, Acts 17:28. He concluded that he would just keep on praising Him whose favor was on him so many ways, even under his oppressions, by his enemies. All that one does should glorify Him in spite of daily cares and circumstances, 1 Corinthians 10:31; Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 13:5.