Bible Commentaries

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

Judge me - vindicate me.

Plead my cause against an ungodly nation. The Hebrew often means 'a nation not loving' or 'merciful' [ lo'

chaaciyd ]; but in Psalms 4:3 it is rendered as the English version here.

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?

For thou art the God of my strength - literally, 'my fortress-God;' i:e., my protecting God; in Psalms 42:9, "God, my rock." Compare Psalms 27:1; Psalms 31:4; Psalms 37:39.

Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? - (Psalms 42:9.) The contrast between God's relation to him as his fortress- God, and the sufferer's present mourning, is the ground of his prayer for rectifying such an anomaly, by delivering him.

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. O send out thy light - thy favour, dispelling my sadness (Psalms 27:1; Psalms 36:9; Psalms 57:3, end; Exodus 15:13).

Thy truth - thy faithfulness in fulfilling thy promises.

Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles - or 'dwellings'-namely, the "curtains" within which the ark of Yahweh "dwelt" at this time on "the holy hill" of Zion (2 Samuel 7:2).

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.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy - literally, 'the joy of my exultation,' or of my leaping for gladness [ giyliy ]. Compare Psalms 42:8.

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.

I shall yet praise him - referring back to Psalms 43:4, "upon the harp will I praise thee." What he had prayed for he already anticipates, in the confidence of faith.