Psalms · Chapter 43

V. 1. Nation-So he calls the company of his enemies for their great numbers. Man-Probably Achitophel or Absalom.

Verse 1. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause] ybyr hbyr ribah ribi, a forensic term, properly enough translated, plead my cause, be my counsellor and advocate.

Ungodly nation] The Babylonians; the impious, perfidious, wicked, and deceitful Babylonians.

The deceitful and unjust man.] Nebuchadnezzar.

Verses 1, 2. Judge me, O God, &c. — “O God, the supreme Judge of the whole world, I appeal to thee, in this contest between me and a seditious people, who, void of piety and humanity,” (so the phrase dysj al, lo chasid, here rendered ungodly, means,) “are risen up in rebellion against me, beseeching thee to vindicate my innocence, and defend me from their violence.” — Bishop Patrick. He calls the company of his enemies a nation, because of their great numbers: for they were the far greater part, and almost the whole body of the nation. Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man — Who hath covered his wicked designs with fair and false pretexts, pretending devotion when he went to make an insurrection, 2 Samuel 15:7, 10. Deliver me from the crafty counsel which Ahithophel gives him; and from the open force whereby he seeks injuriously to take away my life, Ibid. 17:1, 2. For thou art the God of my strength, &c. — I have none to flee unto for safety and protection but thee alone; who hast ever hitherto been my mighty deliverer, and art now my only support.

1. Judge me, O God—It was David’s habit to appeal his cause to God, because he would be judged only by the divine law and justice. Psalm 7:8; 26:1. Plead my cause—The petition is, that God would enter as a third person in the suit, or controversy, and argue and conduct it for the petitioner. It answers exactly to the idea of intercessor or advocate. See Psalm 35:1; Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1. Ungodly nation—It may mean a nation devoid of piety, or one not kindly disposed, unmerciful, hostile. So Psa 12:1. Entering the controversy in behalf of David, God is asked to do, in word or deed, whatever the equity of the case, or the chosen mode of controversy, calls for. Deceitful and unjust man—This may apply to Ahithophel, or, taking the noun collectively, to any man of his class.

Verse 2. For those art the God of my strength] The psalmist speaks here, as in other places, in the person of the whole Israelitish people then captive in Babylon. We still acknowledge thee for our God. Why are we cast off? Now that we are humbled and penitent, why are we not enlarged? Why are we not saved from this oppression of the Babylonians?

Verses 1, 2. Judge me, O God, &c. — “O God, the supreme Judge of the whole world, I appeal to thee, in this contest between me and a seditious people, who, void of piety and humanity,” (so the phrase dysj al, lo chasid, here rendered ungodly, means,) “are risen up in rebellion against me, beseeching thee to vindicate my innocence, and defend me from their violence.” — Bishop Patrick. He calls the company of his enemies a nation, because of their great numbers: for they were the far greater part, and almost the whole body of the nation. Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man — Who hath covered his wicked designs with fair and false pretexts, pretending devotion when he went to make an insurrection, 2 Samuel 15:7, 10. Deliver me from the crafty counsel which Ahithophel gives him; and from the open force whereby he seeks injuriously to take away my life, Ibid. 17:1, 2. For thou art the God of my strength, &c. — I have none to flee unto for safety and protection but thee alone; who hast ever hitherto been my mighty deliverer, and art now my only support.

2. The God of my strength—The psalmist ascribes to God such appellative titles as befit his condition. He needed “strength,” and that belonged to God only. Why go I mourning—Why these delays of justice? This is the “mystery of God” (Revelation 10:7) in all ages, and the stumbling block to weak faith. The same complaint as is made Psalm 42:9. The means of victory in such cases is recorded Psalm 28:7.

V. 3. Send out-That is, actually discover them. Truth-Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or the true-light, the illumination of thy spirit, and the direction of thy gracious providence, whereby I may be led in the right way, to thy holy hill. Hill-Of Zion, the place of God’s presence and worship.

Verse 3. O send out thy light and thy truth] We are in darkness and distress, O send light and prosperity; we look for the fulfilment of thy promises, O send forth thy truth. Let thy light guide me to thy holy hill, to the country of my fathers; let thy truth lead me to thy tabernacles, there to worship thee in spirit and in truth.

Verses 3-5. O send out — Actually impart and discover; thy light and thy truth — Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or, the true light, the illumination of thy Spirit, and the direction of thy gracious providence, whereby I may be led in the right way. Let them bring me unto thy holy hill — Of Zion, the place of thy presence and worship. Then will I go unto the altar of God — To offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for my deliverance; unto God my exceeding joy — The principal author and matter of all my joy and comfort; or, as it is literally translated in the margin, The gladness of my joy: Why art thou cast down, O my soul, &c. — See above, Psalm 42:5, 11.

3. Thy light and… truth—These alone can vanquish sin and oppression. When men regard things in God’s “light and truth,” then wrongs and contentions will cease. Psalm 57:3. Unto thy holy hill—Unto Mount Zion. Tabernacles—The plural may signify the sacred tent and its apartments and cloisters, or the tent on Zion and tabernacle at Gibeon. See 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chronicles 16:39.

Verse 4. Then will I go unto the altar] When thy light-a favourable turn on our affairs, leads us to the land of our fathers, and thy truth-the fulfillment of thy gracious promises, has placed us again at the door of thy tabernacles, then will we go to thy altar, and joyfully offer those sacrifices and offerings which thy law requires, and rejoice in thee with exceeding great joy.

Verses 3-5. O send out — Actually impart and discover; thy light and thy truth — Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or, the true light, the illumination of thy Spirit, and the direction of thy gracious providence, whereby I may be led in the right way. Let them bring me unto thy holy hill — Of Zion, the place of thy presence and worship. Then will I go unto the altar of God — To offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for my deliverance; unto God my exceeding joy — The principal author and matter of all my joy and comfort; or, as it is literally translated in the margin, The gladness of my joy: Why art thou cast down, O my soul, &c. — See above, Psalm 42:5, 11.

4. Then will I go unto the altar— “Then,” is emphatic. When God’s “light and truth,” which he shall “send forth” with authority, shall have executed the divine plan of judgment and mercy, “then” he would go “unto the altar of God,” his “exceeding joy.” And then shall the righteous rejoice and lift up their heads. Here is the hope of the Church. The last verse closes with the same sad yet hopeful refrain as Psalm 42:5, 11.

Verse 5. Why art thou cast down] Though our deliverance be delayed, God has not forgotten to be gracious. The vision, the prophetic declaration relative to our captivity, was for an appointed time. Though it appear to tarry, we must wait for it. In the end it will come, and will not tarry; why then should we be discouraged? Let us still continue to trust in God, for we shall yet praise him for the fullest proofs of his approbation in a great outpouring of his benedictions.

Verses 3-5. O send out — Actually impart and discover; thy light and thy truth — Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to me; or, the true light, the illumination of thy Spirit, and the direction of thy gracious providence, whereby I may be led in the right way. Let them bring me unto thy holy hill — Of Zion, the place of thy presence and worship. Then will I go unto the altar of God — To offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for my deliverance; unto God my exceeding joy — The principal author and matter of all my joy and comfort; or, as it is literally translated in the margin, The gladness of my joy: Why art thou cast down, O my soul, &c. — See above, Psalm 42:5, 11.