David, praying to be restored to the temple, promises to serve God joyfully, 1-4. He encourages his soul to trust in God, 5.
1 Judge me, O God,/
and plead my cause against an ungodly nation./
O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For you are the God of my strength./
Why do you cast me off?/
Why do I go mourning/
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light and your truth./
Let them lead me./
Let them bring me to your holy hill/
and to your tabernacles.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,/
to God, my exceeding joy./
Upon the harp I will even praise you,/
O God my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?/
And why are you disquieted within me?/
Hope in God. For I shall yet praise him/
who is the health of my countenance and my God.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 43[➚]
John Calvin's Chapter Summary:
This psalm is very similar to the preceding. David, who probably was the author of it, being chased and driven out of his country by the unjust violence and tyranny of his enemies, calls upon God for vengeance, and encourages himself to hope for restoration.