Bible Commentaries
Psalms 43

Verses 1-5

Introduction

Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 42 and forms a whole with it. Psalm 43 has no heading, which makes it plausible to view this psalm as a continuation of Psalm 42. A strong argument for the unity of the two psalms is also the refrain that occurs three times in both psalms (Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11Psalms 43:5). Also, the question occurs in both psalms: “Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (Psalms 42:9; Psalms 43:2).

There is a distinction, however. The enemies in Psalm 42 are the nations; the enemies in Psalm 43 are the unbelieving compatriots. The latter is an even greater distress. Psalm 42 is a lamentation related to memories of the past. Psalm 43 is a supplication to God in connection with the enemy within the people, the antichrist, who will also exercise his evil influence on the Jews in the dispersion outside the land.

Send Your Light and Your Truth

The God-fearing further expands his need before God. He now asks that God vindicates him and pleads his cause (Psalms 43:1). God can do that by delivering him from “an ungodly nation” which is the ungodly mass of God’s people, and “from the deceitful and unjust man”, which is the antichrist. The ungodly mass is the large part of God’s people who reject the covenant that God has made with His people and do not keep it. The antichrist is the leader of this ungodly mass. He takes the place of Christ – as Absalom took the place of David (2 Samuel 15:1-2 Chronicles :) – and is therefore the man of deceit and injustice.

The God-fearing calls God “the God of my strength” (Psalms 43:2), by which he means that he counts on God to use His power against his enemies. But it seems that God is using His power against him, His faithful servant. In any case, God did not use His power to stop the enemy. After all, God rejects him. This is a more powerful expression than being “forgotten” by God, as he says in Psalm 42 (Psalms 42:9). And this while he goes “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy” (cf. Psalms 42:9). Surely then God does notice that he is mourning because he misses fellowship with Him so much, doesn’t He?

God can do something else for him and that is to send His “light” and His “truth” to lead and bring him to God’s holy hill, which is Zion, and to His dwellings, which is His temple (Psalms 43:3). In doing so, the remnant, without realizing it themselves, is asking for the coming of the Lord Jesus as Messiah. He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and He is “the truth” (John 14:6). This is in sharp contrast to the antichrist who claims of himself that he is God, which is a lie. His true nature is that of a liar. The Lord Jesus is the One Who has revealed the truth about God (John 1:1-Job :). When He is sent by God, He will return His people into God’s presence.

We can also think of the Word of God which is a light and the truth (Psalms 119:105; John 17:17). The God-fearing is not primarily concerned with returning to the land and his possessions, but with the presence of God. He already experiences it when God leads him by His light and His truth. His goal with that is to be brought to God’s “holy hill”, Mount Zion, and God’s “dwelling places”. the temple. He longs very much for the dwelling place of God to be with Him there.

If God does, then he can “go to the altar of God” to sacrifice there (Psalms 43:4; cf. 2 Samuel 6:17). He can go to God Himself, Whom He calls “my exceeding joy” and he can “praise” Him “upon the lyre”. God is the source of his joy; he finds all happiness in Him. Here the God-fearing is in the direct presence of God Himself. We hear his deep joy when he says to God, “O God, my God”. Then his heart is at rest and he can give thanks to God in all keys. After all, God enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Psalms 22:4).

There is an ascension in Psalms 43:3-Numbers ::
1. God’s holy hill,
2. God’s dwelling places,
3. God’s altar,
4. God, his exceeding joy.

The psalm ends with the refrain that appears twice in the previous psalm (Psalms 43:5; Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11). He says here, as in Psalm 42, that he will praise God because God Himself is “the help [or: saving acts] of my countenance” (Psalms 42:11). He also calls God “my God” here.