Psalm 43: No need to be cast down

[Preliminary Comments: A really short psalm with no identification but yet which [from v.5] clearly goes with the previous psalm by the sons of Korah and should perhaps be seen as a simple continuation of that previous psalm.]

v.1 A plea for God’s help against the unrighteous in the Land

v.1 Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.

v.2 If God is his protection why is he suffering with unrighteous enemies?

v.2 You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?

v.3 Give me your guidance to lead me to your house

v.3 Send me your light and your faithful care
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.

v.4 There I will sacrifice and praise you

v.4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

v.5 So… the refrain again: don’t be cast down, hope (trust) in God

v.5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

[Additional Thoughts: The psalmist is aware of living in an unrighteous and ungodly community and feels they are bearing down on him. But he’s a child of God with the Lord as his protection so he calls on the Lord to guide him through this time, back to a place where he can dwell with God and praise and worship Him; he really has no reason to be cast down!

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through

1 Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: