Psalm 43 is considered a continuation of Psalm 42 as it explores similar themes and uses a common chorus. However, unlike the preceding hymn, this Psalm does not have a note about the writer. It addresses the challenges faced by individuals who genuinely follow God but differ from the traditional religious practices of their peers.
It is often easier to share our spiritual experience with those who are in darkness rather than enlighten those who believe they already possess divine knowledge. God continuously blesses us with His fresh grace each day, and in order to fully experience His unique grace, we must let go of our old principles. However, even if we do so, it can be challenging to convince our fellow believers who may perceive our ways as unconventional.
Prove My Stand, God
Vindicate me, my God,
Psalms 43:1-2 (NIV)
and plead my cause
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
deceitful and wicked.
You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
God chooses His faithful to teach His way to common people, not revealing His truth to everyone but to a chosen group. The chosen ones are entrusted to share His love and compassion with the whole world. Despite facing opposition and being thrown into pits and dark cells, the prophets and disciples were not deterred from conveying the message of God. Their glorious light, ignited by God, remained resilient.
In the past, God asked the Jews to spread His love, but they failed due to their self-righteousness and strict adherence to the law. The ill-treatment faced by the prophets and disciples at the cost of the message of God might have discouraged the Jews from spreading His love. The Psalmist’s request for God’s validation highlights the struggle of disappointment and oppression when others oppose the truth. It also addresses the perception that God may have rejected us.
Regardless of whether others accept the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit, God is pleased that we understand His teachings and are willing to share them. Similar to the prophet Elijah, who felt alone but was comforted by God’s reassurance of the seven thousand who remained faithful, this sentiment reminds us that God continues His work even when it may seem to us that no one is learning the truth. This serves as a reminder of God’s commitment to those who feel oppressed and rejected as they were unable to see positive results in their ministries.
Let Your Light Alone Lead Me
Send me your light and your faithful care,
Psalms 43:3-4 (NIV)
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
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.
The Psalmist recognized the importance of relying on the true light of God to guide him when faced with the influence of worldly principles, man-made religion, and the law of Moses. He was determined to approach the altar of God by any means necessary and learned to disregard any obstacles. The Psalmist understood that the living word of God is the ultimate truth and the true source of light.
Jesus is praying to His Father, I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified (John 17:14-19).
Jesus, by sanctifying Himself and obeying His Father to the point of dying on the Cross, paved the way for us to an eternal altar that is not constructed by human hands. This profound truth brings us immense joy and contentment, inspiring us to sing songs of adoration and exalt Him. Our worshipful songs spring from the depths of our hearts, where the Holy Spirit resides as a guarantee of our promised everlasting life. Similar to the Psalmist, we desire to recognize God’s abode, which is within our hearts, and approach His magnificent heavenly altar.
Encouraging The Soul
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Psalms 43:5
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Our souls are often disturbed, and we tend to seek approval from fellow believers and religious leaders, indulging our earthly desires. However, genuine peace can only be attained when our souls uncover the truth. We struggle by ignoring or concealing the truth for the sake of convenience, which ultimately harms our inner selves. While we focus on outward appearances and actions to appear righteous, we fail to recognize that while our bodies fade, our souls are continuously renewed, longing to reach the eternal altar of God, not built by human hands.
Instead of searching for supporters of the truth, we should remain honest with God until we meet Him face to face. With this hope in mind, we should daily encourage our souls with His word to strengthen them, even in the midst of unfavourable circumstances. Otherwise, the chaos of this world will gradually destroy our souls. The Psalmist asked for God’s validation in the beginning and accepted Him as his own Savior and God at the end. Accepting God as our personal Savior put an end to our quest for His approval.
God, please assist us as we continue to move forward each day on our pilgrim towards your glorious altar.Thank you for your encouraging word. Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger (Job 17:9).
The Jordan Valley 
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