A blessed Thursday morning to you, my brother. I pray that our Good God would pour out His peace upon you today!
Read Psalm 43. Selah.
This little psalm, a continuation of (or connected to) Psalm 42, is “A Contemplation of the Sons of Korah”. It is one of 7 or 8 psalms attributed to the sons of Korah, who were Levites ministering before the LORD as musicians.
In just the opening 2 verses of this short passage, an important and timely lesson is presented for every Believer. The psalmist, who according to the word has been oppressed; lied to; treated unjustly; and even dwells in an ungodly nation – that very same psalmist does not run to “the system” for help, he doesn’t bring his grievances before other people, he doesn’t rant and rave and demonstrate. So, what does our aggrieved psalmist do? He turns his face to God, and cries out to Him “vindicate me!”. The word vindicate is the Hebrew “shaphat”, meaning “to judge”. Effectively, the psalmist is crying out to the LORD for justice to be done, for goodness to reign, and for the psalmist’s oppressors to be punished. By placing his plight before God, the writer knows that he has given his problems over to the ultimate Ruler, who cannot help but rule righteously. We would do well to learn this lesson – the world is unjust, but we have a holy and righteous God who is always willing to take up our cause!
Then, in vv 3, the writer turns from crying out to God to declaring that the LORD’s light and the LORD’s truth is the unfailing way out of his despair. Simply stated, the psalmist is proclaiming “LORD, these problems are too big for me – but You are mightier than every injustice I am experiencing- I give all of this to You!”.
And through his willingness to trust in God, to recognize God in all of God’s goodness and power and holiness and righteousness, the psalmist’s joy and hope and praise is restored. And note this – not just joy, but exceeding joy!
My brother, be encouraged as you head out today! I encourage you to inscribe these scriptural truths on your heart: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8) and “Our God will fight for us.” (Nehemiah 4).
LORD, I thank You that I can cry out to You in the face of any injustice, and You hear me! My lips will praise You, God, for delivering me, and for restoring the exceeding joy and the hope I have in You! Amen!