"Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 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? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 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. 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." (Psalms 43:1-5)

          Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 appear to be part of one psalm. We do not know why they were divided. Each psalm is dealing with exactly the same material. Psalm 43 has no heading possibly showing that it came under the same heading as Psalm 42. The statement of Psalm 43:5 is identical to Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 42:11. "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 43:5) Psalms 42:9 which says "I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" is identical in thought to Psalms 43:2. "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?" Psalm 43 has three natural divisions. First, the psalmist cried to God in prayer for deliverance from the deceitful and unjust man. (Psalm 43:1-2) Second, He promised praise to God as He answered that prayer. (Psalm 43:3-4) Third, He rebuked himself for being cast down with despondency. (Psalm 43:5) 

          Plead my cause against the ungodly -- Psalm 43:1-2: The psalmist asked God to exonerate him and to plead his cause against an ungodly nation. This psalm was likely dealing with the Jews in captivity. If that is the case the ungodly nation was Babylon and the deceitful and unjust man was Nebuchadnezzar. The psalmist still acknowledged God as his help. He said, "You are God my stronghold." He still pondered the question as to why the Jews had been cast off or rejected by God. The Jews were humbled and penitent. They went about mourning because they were oppressed by the enemy. The psalmist wondered why God had not saved His people from oppression when they had repented of their sins.  

          Promised praise to God -- Psalm 43:3-4: Without God we find ourselves in darkness and anguish. The psalmist prayed for God's leading through His light and faithful care. He desired God's light to guide him "unto God's holy hill, and to His tabernacles." God's truth was desired as it would lead them to the tabernacles where they could worship in the proper manner. The psalmist promised God that when they were delivered they would joyfully go to His altar and offer the sacrifices and offerings which His law demanded. Their joy would cause them to worship God. It would cause them to praise God with the harp and to accept and recognize Him as God. The psalmist used the beautiful expression "O God my God."

          Personal rebuke for being cast down -- Psalm 43:5: Though deliverance might be delayed we must not allow our souls to be cast down. God has not forgotten to bless us or to be gracious unto us. So the psalmist asked himself, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?"

He wondered why his soul was so despondent. Why would he be so distressed?

Regardless of what is going on around us let us continue to trust in God. Put your hope in God. The psalmist chided himself for being downcast and encouraged himself to trust in God. The chiding came in the words, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?" The encouragement followed, "Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." We must hope in God. He has said, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)