We can all relate to being unjustly charged. We’ve had our opponents. We have been ridiculed. We can identify with the Psalmist in the 43rd Psalm. Evidently he is undergoing some scourging at the hands of evil and unjust people (Ps. 43.1). It has gotten to the point where he has even begun to feel like God also has turned on him (43.2). From varying experiences, we can all relate to this.
So what is the response?
Often times our default is to look inward. We look their either for strength or pity. In either case we are not helped.
What is the model response for believers?
In Psalm 43 we read that he finds himself petitioning for God to lavish him with grace. He asks for more of God to lead him to more of God. The result is his praise of God. This is very instructive.
(Psa 43.3-4) Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
Even though he is feeling pressed in he is calling out for divine aid to see more of God. This should be the default cry of our hearts, but especially in the midst of trials. When the soul is sad we need God to invade our lives with his soul-captivating grace.
Notice how in verse 4 he remarks that God is his exceeding joy?! This is the true delight and counselor to the believer; that we are brought to know, enjoy, and rest in God.
When he has this soul stirring grace he remembers the source of his joy, he rejoices in the God of his joy, he rebukes the selfishness of his soul, and he remembers his utter desperateness.
I love the way this song concludes:
(Psa 43.5) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
He is now talking to himself. The wicked have their hearts talking to them (Ps. 36.1) but the believer has to speak truth to his heart (Ps. 15.2). Here we have the same thing. The sermon is confrontation, “why are you cast down”. It is exhortational, “Hope in God”. And it is doxological, “I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God”.
The downcast believer here shows us a good practice to adopt. He begins by talking to God and ends by talking to himself. This is very instructive for us.
There are many more notes of rejoicing in this Psalm, here are a few for the Christian:
- God is faithful to care for his people.
- God will flood hungry hearts with a sight and taste of him.
- God has indeed sent his light and truth to mankind (John 14.6)
- It is Jesus that leads us, and brings us to God (1 Pet. 3.18)
- Jesus has become our joy.
- Jesus has become our song.
- Jesus has become our hope.
- Jesus has become our salvation.
- Jesus has become our God.
- Jesus is the means by which God has truly become our joy.
- God will not abandon his people or reject us because he has done this to Jesus upon the cross. Jesus’ abandonment secures God’s faithfulness to his people.
