John Trapp
Psalm 43

Verse 1

Psalm 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

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 Psa. 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.

Verse 2

Psalm 43:2 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?

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 (Isa. 26:4), for God of my strength (Psa. 42:9), is my rock.

Why go I mourning. See Psa. 42:9.

Verse 3

Psalm 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

O send out thy light, i.e. Thy comforting grace, opposed to that (Psa. 43:2), I go mourning, or in black.

And thy truth, i.e. Thy faithfulness, opposed to the deceitful man (Psa. 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 (Heb. 9:2-3).

Verse 4

Psalm 43:4 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.

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.

Verse 5

Psalm 43:5 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.

Why art thou bowed down, &c. See Psa. 42:5, 11.