Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2023-2024
1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 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?
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.
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. 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
Psalm 43
Most commentators believe that Psalms 42 and 43 were written by the same person at about the same time and might even have been one song originally. Many, such as Calvin, Henry, Poole and Spurgeon, believe that David wrote them during the time when he was driven to exile by his son Absalom. Absalom had risen up against David with the support of some of the people he considered good friends, such as Ahithophel.
As you can imagine, those were very dark days for David. They were not nearly as dark as what our Saviour experienced when He was betrayed by Judas, abandoned by His disciples, denied by Peter and, as it were, forsaken by His Father. But David was inspired by the Spirit of Christ to write what he did, not only to reflect the suffering of our Saviour, but to succour those who are united to Him, who are, likewise, facing darkness in their souls.
Psalm 43, therefore, provides us with a godly example of what to do in days of darkness. Notice his two petitions and his word of self-exhortation.
1. A Petition for Deliverance
We all know how to pray for deliverance without being instructed in times of trial. It is almost instinctual for a believer to cry for deliverance. However, when your soul is in a dark place, prayer, even prayer for deliverance, can be difficult. It is difficult because, at such times, you may feel that everyone is against you, and even God seems to have cast you off. You mourn because you sense you are being pressed down, betrayed and treated unjustly. This was how David felt. You can see it in the first two verses of this Psalm.
How do you pray at such times? Well, you can see it in these two verses too. Notice how David asks God to judge him and plead his cause? He requests God to vindicate, defend and deliver him if he is innocent and does not deserve what is happening to him.
Our Lord, the greater David, is, of course, perfectly innocent, but the rest of us, like David, are often more guilty than we think we are. Thus, it is right for us to plead with the Father to judge us and, if He finds us worthy, to defend and deliver us.
2. a Petition to Send Forth God’s Light and Truth
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. 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.
In other words, let the light of your countenance and assurance of your faithfulness lead me out of the darkness I am in. And bring me to your holy hill and tabernacles so I may worship you again with joy.
When you are depressed, your soul is shrouded in darkness. You are discouraged and feel quite lost. You are probably prevented from enjoying God in public worship like David. What do you need most? You need the light of God’s countenance. You need to see God’s heavenly smile through eyes of faith. You need also the assurance that God’s promises are true. You need hope that you will again be restored unto joyous worship before God.
This was David’s great desire, and indeed the desire of our Saviour—who came to gather the congregation of His people to worship the Father with Him.
Is it your desire to enjoy public worship without any hindrance, too? If so, go to the Lord to ask Him to send forth His light and His truth. He will hear your cry. Then, in that confidence, speak to yourself, as David did.
3. A Word of Self-Exhortation
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.
When you are emotionally well, talking with yourself and reasoning within your heart is a valuable decision-making method. “Why has this happened to me? Could it be something which I said to Jack? But he has no reason to hate me. Now, let’s see: I told him he needs to work on his punctuality, but I also said I understand his struggles…”
However, when you are in a dark place, and your thinking is all muddled up, talking with yourself does not help. “It’s all my fault! I deserve it. I should have just let Jack be. Every time I open my mouth, I offend someone. Jane is right; I am a troublemaker. I am just not fit for the job, am I? I need to keep my mouth shut. Maybe I should resign…”
No, no; when you are in a dark place, the best thing to do is to talk to yourself and exhort yourself with the authority of God’s truth.
The question, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” does not expect an answer.” It is really a word of self-admonishment: “You have no reason to be cast down! You do not need to be disquieted. You must hope in God.”
Look to Him! He is a faithful God. For a season, you have come under His frowning providence, but He has promised that He will never leave or forsake you.
[You] shall yet praise Him, who is the health of [your] countenance, and your God.
Notice that it is not “For I may yet praise him.” It is “I SHALL yet praise him…” He will lift me up. He has never failed me. He understands my struggles, though man may not. He has proven Himself faithful. He will prove Himself faithful.
As the Father never ceased to love His son, even when He turned His face from Him, I know He still loves me and will restore me to the joy of communion with Him.
He will plead my cause. He will send forth His light and His truth. I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my God.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus is our compassionate great high priest and elder brother. He was tested in all points like as we are, and therefore understands all our struggles and doldrums.
Psalm 43 is one of the Psalms He must have used when darkness enveloped His soul during His earthly ministry. It is also a song He has appointed for us to use when facing similar situations. Let us learn to use it so that we may walk confidently and joyfully before Him even through stretches of our lives when darkness and confusion threaten to envelop us. Amen.
—JJ Lim