YOU ARE GOD MY STRONGHOLD

Passage: Psalms 43:1-5

Key verse: 3

NIV

Psalm 43[a]

1 Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause(A)
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(B) from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.(C)
2 You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected(D) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(E)
    oppressed by the enemy?(F)
3 Send me your light(G) and your faithful care,(H)
    let them lead me;(I)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(J)
    to the place where you dwell.(K)
4 Then I will go(L) to the altar(M) of God,
    to God, my joy(N) and my delight.(O)
I will praise you with the lyre,(P)
    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 Savior and my God.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

43 (A)Vindicate me, O God, and (B)defend my cause
    against an ungodly people,
from (C)the deceitful and unjust man
    deliver me!
2 For you are (D)the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you (E)rejected me?
Why do I (F)go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 (G)Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your (H)holy hill
    and to your (I)dwelling!
4 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.

5 (J)Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
(K)Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, God my stronghold (1-2,5). This psalm is a continuation of Psalm 42, with the same refrain: “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” (43:5; 42:5,11). He describes his enemies who are oppressing him as “an unfaithful nation” and the “deceitful and wicked” (1). He prays for God’s vindication and rescue. God is his refuge and stronghold, but he feels rejected and oppressed by the enemy. When we are oppressed or feel downcast, God is our stronghold and rescue.

Second, send your light and faithful care (3-4). The psalmist prays, “Send your light and your faithful care, let them lead me…to your holy mountain… where you dwell.” The LORD and his word are our light and salvation (Ps 27:1; 119:1

5). God turns our darkness to light. God’s faithful care leads us to worship him even more. God was the psalmist’s joy and delight; he only wanted to return to God’s altar to praise him (4).

Prayer: God, you are my stronghold, my light, and my salvation. May my lips and my life praise you.

One Word: God is my stronghold, joy, and delight