Psalms 43 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

Ver. 1. Judge me, O God] This psalm is, as it were, an epitome or an appendix to the former, and little differing in words or matter.

Plead my cause] See Psalms 35:1 .

Against an ungodly nation] Heb. a nation not mild or merciful; so he calleth Absalom's complices, who sought and would have sucked his blood. Such are a people of God's wrath and of his curse.

O deliver me, &c.] From Absalom, or Ahithophel, or the whole faction.

For thou [art] the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Ver. 2. For thou art the God of my strength] As being in covenant with me, both offensive and defensive. In the Lord Jehovah is a Rock of ages, or everlasting strength, Isaiah 26:4, for God of my strength, Psalms 42:9, is my rock.

Why go I mourning] See Psalms 42:9 .

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Ver. 3. O send out thy light] i.e. Thy comforting grace, opposed to that, Psalms 43:2, I go mourning, or in black.

And thy truth] i.e. Thy faithfulness, opposed to the deceitful man, Psalms 43:1. The Rabbis interpret light and truth by Christ and Elijah; the Arabic maketh it a prayer for the Jews' conversion, Lux et veritas piorum comites.

Yet them bring me unto thy holy hill] Zion, the place of holy assemblies for God's service, Iterum commendatur hic dignitas ministerii publici: Vae igitur illis qui caducorum bolorum usum reditaunt sacri ministerii iactura, qui conciones sacras et sacramenta ultro negligunt, &c.

And to thy tabernacles] So called, either because it was set up at sundry times in sundry places, while it was transportative; or else because it was parted by veils into several rooms, Hebrews 9:2,3 .

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Ver. 4. Then will I go unto the altar of God] Not without store of sacrifices. God's service is now nothing so costly; and should, therefore, be more cheerfully performed. Heathens had their altars, &c., all save the Persians.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.

Ver. 5. Why art thou bowed down, &c.] See Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11 .