Psalm 43 - Why are you cast down, my soul?

This psalm is similar to Psalm 42. I think the author of Psalm 42 was moved by the last verse of this psalm and wrote a psalm based his meditation on that verse.

I tried to use the same tune for both Psalms, but it didn't work. Psalm 42 is bitter and very sweet. This psalm is not so sweet, but melancholy. I made the meter for both psalms the same. You can try singing this psalm to the tune of Psalm 42 and see if it works. That tune is too sweet for this Psalm. I can sing Psalm 42 to this tune, but it loses a lot of the sweetness.

Music is at its best when it is pleasingly melancholic. - Charles Spurgeon

I am wondering why Psalm 42 was placed before Psalm 43. Many say that Psalm 42 has no conclusion and that Psalm 43 is the conclusion of it. I don't see a conclusion in either psalm, but Psalm 43 has requests in vv1,3, while Psalm 42 has speaking to God, but no request. That makes Psalm 43 go further than Psalm 42. Often psalms end with concluding requests (Ps 139:23-24).

I tried singing Psalm 42 followed by Psalm 43, and then in reverse order. I feel the order of Psalm 42 followed by Psalm 43, as it is, is better. I wouldn't appreciate Psalm 43 much, were it not preceded by Psalm 42.

I think David wrote this psalm while he was a fugitive from King Saul in the land of the Philistines (1Sam 27:1, 7).

Or, David could have wrote this for Saul, for when Saul was oppressed by an evil spirit from God (1Sam 16:23), but I don't think v1 could apply to Saul's suffering.

Or it could be when David was beside himself grieving in exile east of the Jordan River for the death of his son Absalom, and he had to pull himself together for the sake of his people. (2Sam 18:33-19:8).

v1 - "a psalm through David" comes from LXX

MT has no heading. I think the LXX is more accurate for Psalm headings because the New Testament agrees with LXX that Ps 95 is through David. MT had lost the Psalm heading for Psalm 95, and I think for this psalm also.

The phrase "not godly" does not mean "ungodly", which is a different Hebrew word. The phrase here is only used in this verse. I think it means that David was disappointed in the nation of Israel for delivering him up to Saul after he rescued them (1Sam 23), and for reporting to Saul where David was (1Sam 23:19; 26:1).

Or that the nation of Israel had been so easily duped by his son Absalom to rebel against David (2Sam 15:6).

One such advocate as the Lord will more than suffice to answer a nation of brawling accusers. ... One good word from God outweighs ten thousand railing speeches of men. ... The only way of dealing with them is to refer the matter to the righteous Judge of all; if we try to fight them with their own weapons, we shall suffer more serious injury from ourselves than from them. O child of God, leave these thine enemies in better hands, remembering that vengeance belongeth not to thee, but to thy Lord. Turn to him in prayer, crying, "O deliver me, "and ere long you shall publish abroad the remembrance of his salvation. - C. H. Spurgeon

v2- This verse is very similar to Ps 42:9. The first halves are very similar. The 2nd halves are nearly identical, the only difference is that this psalm says literally, "I go about" and Ps 42 says "I go".

I think David says God has cast him off because he is exiled outside of Israel, and I think also because David is not receiving God's speaking at this time.

"For" - Here is argument, which is the very sinew of prayer. If we reasoned more with the Lord we should have more victories in supplication. - Spurgeon

Here again is a useful question, addressed to the right quarter. The answer will often be because we are saints, and must be made like our Head, and because such sorrow is chastening to the spirit, and yieldeth comfortable fruit. We are not to cross question the Lord in peevishness, but we may ask of him in humility; God help us to observe the distinction so as not to sin through stress of sorrow. - Spurgeon

v3- "dwellings" plural should be God's people in whom He would dwell.

Let Your light and truth bring me back to Israel, to Your holy hill and to the dwellings of Your people.

"Let them bring me unto Thy holy hill and to Thy tabernacles, the local churches." - Witness Lee

Reveal my true character by thy light, and reward me according to thy truthful promise. ... We seek not light to sin by, nor truth to be exalted by it, but that they may become our practical guides to the nearest communion with God: only such light and truth as are sent us from God will do this, common light is not strong enough to show the road to heaven, nor will mere moral or physical truths assist to the holy hill; but the light of the Holy Spirit, and the truth as it is in Jesus, these are elevating, sanctifying, perfecting; and hence their virtue in leading us to the glorious presence of God. It is beautiful to observe how David's longing to be away from the oppression of man always leads him to sigh more intensely for communion with God. - Spurgeon

v 4- The reality of my joyful song is God.

If David might but be favoured with such a deliverance as would permit his return, it would not be his own house or heritage which would be his first resort, but to the altar of God his willing feet should conduct him. His whole heart would go as sacrifice to the altar, he himself counting it his greatest happiness to be permitted to lie as a burnt offering wholly dedicated to the Lord. - Spurgeon

v5 - This verse is identical to the last verse of the preceding psalm, Psalm 42:11.

I think v5 is the song upon the harp that in v4 David says he will sing to God, his God at the altar. God is truly the joy of this song. He does not try to force his soul to rejoice, but brings his soul to God just as it is.

The Psalm has a blessed ending, such as we would fain imitate when death puts an end to our mortal existence. - Spurgeon

created 6/2/2015