Bible Commentaries

Light and Truth (Suitable for Missions)

Psalm 43:3

We all need a guide. No one would question this. Very often we choose a wrong guide, and one that leads us astray. Light and truth are two great factors in our everyday life. Without either or both of them, we should drag on a most miserable existence. Light is the world's first and greatest necessity, hence it was first created before the inhabitants of the earth. We cannot do without light which brings life. It promotes healthy growth, it produces happiness.

As there is need for light in the natural world, so there is need of light in the spiritual world. "The whole world," said St. Psalm 43:3

This43Psalm, and the Psalm that goes before it, were composed by David under circumstances of great trouble. Taken together, they give us an insight into the very heart of the Psalmist. David there appears as the man whose affections were set upon God, and in all the changes and chances and dangers of a chequered life looked upward.

I. We need to have this teaching, and this example in this life of weary toil, we need to have our spirits lifted up, not to be always earthward bound.

II. Observe how entirely Christian the prayer is. We ask for God's light, and for His truth—and what is this but to ask for Christ to dwell in our hearts?

III. We live in times when aspirations are sadly damped and discouraged. If a man look upward he is told that he is neglecting closer duties, that his work lies at his feet. Hold fast the blessed hope of a life to come promised and open to all who have faith in Jesus Christ.

IV. God is present in all places, at all times—but is present according to His true promise, wheresoever two or three are gathered together in His name.

—R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons (3Series), p158.

Psalm 43:3

After the ministers and elders of the Free Church of Scotland, at the Disruption, had reached Tanfield Hall in their first step of emancipation, 18 May, 1843 , Dr. Chalmers took the chair as Moderator, and rose to give out the opening Psalm. Dr. Buchanan, the historian of the Ten Years" Conflict, says: "A heavy thunder-cloud had for some time darkened the heavens, and, as the eye ranged at that particular moment over the dense mass of human beings who covered the immense area of the low-roofed hall, individual forms had almost ceased to be distinguishable through the sombre shade. The Psalm which Dr. Chalmers had chosen was the43rd. He began at that touching and beautiful line—

O send Thy light forth and Thy truth, and as the words sounded through the hall, the sun, escaping from behind his cloudy covering, and darting his brilliant beams through the windows which pierced the roof, turned on the instant the preceding darkness into day. It was one of those incidents which only superstition could misunderstand, but which, at the same time, is entitled to its own place among the traits of the picturesque which belonged to the scenes we are describing."

—John Ker.

References.—XLIII:3.—J. M. Neale, Sermons on Passages of the Psalm 43:5

Three times does the Psalmist take himself to task and question himself as to the reasonableness of the emotions that are surging in his soul, and checks these by higher considerations.

I. Moods and emotions should be examined and governed by a higher self. It is necessary to keep a very tight hand upon all our feelings, whether they be the natural desires of the sensuous part of our nature, or whether they be the sentiments of sadness and doubt, or anxiety or perplexity which are the natural results of outward circumstances of trial; or whether, on the contrary they be the bright and buoyant ones which come, like angels, along with prosperous hours.

II. There are two ways of looking at causes of dejection and disquiet. "My soul" has been talking two whole Psalm to explain why it is cast down. After all these have been said again and again the Psalmist says to himself, "Come now, let us hear it all once more, Why art thou cast down?" There is a court of appeal in each man which tests and tries his reasons for his moods; and these which look very sufficient to the flesh, turn out to be very insufficient when investigated and tested by the higher spirit or self. We should "appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober".

III. No reasons for being cast down are so strong as those for elation and calm hope. Try to realize what God is to yourselves—"My God," and "the health of my countenance". That will stimulate sluggish feeling; that will calm disturbed emotion.

IV. The effort to lay hold on the truth which calms is to be repeated in spite of failures. A moment of tranquillity interrupts the agitation of the Psalmist's soul, but is soon followed by the recurrence of "the horrible storm" that "begins afresh". But the guiding self keeps the hand firm on the tiller, notwithstanding the wash of the water and the rolling of the ship, and the dominant will conquers at last

—A. Maclaren, Christ's Musts, p210.

Reference.—XLIII:5.—H. P. Liddon, Old Testament Outlines, p111.

Psalm 43

This Psalm was chanted in the church at Milan, a.d387 , when Augustine was baptized by Ambrose.

—John Ker.