Psalm 43 – Vindicate Me!
In Psalm 43 – vindicate me, the writer is asking God to not just judge him, but to prove he is not guilty. Have you ever been unjustly accused? What did you do? What does the writer of this psalm do?
Psalm 43
As mentioned in the post on Psalm 42, Psalm 43 is generally accepted to be a continuation of Psalm 42 because of common construction and phrases. Because of this I considered writing about both of them at the same time. However, when I read Psalm 43, it struck me that this psalm is dealing with something different from Psalm 42.
In Psalm 42 the writer is speaking about his longing for God since he is no longer being allowed to enter the Temple. It is a more personal psalm, speaking of friends turning against him. In Psalm 43 – vindicate me, he is dealing with an unfaithful, ungodly nation.
“Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.” (1)
He is calling on God to vindicate him. It isn’t just a few detractors. The nation is so corrupt that only God can prevail.
Depression
The situation in Psalm 43 – vindicate me, has left him depressed:
“You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” (2)
but not without hope:
“Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” (3-4)
He concludes with the same phrase from Psalm 42, reminding all to put their hope in God.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (5)
Even in his sadness, he continues to praise God, one way to counter depression.
Reasons for Depression
There are different reasons for depression. In Psalm 42 the psalmist is depressed because he is lonely, his friends have turned against him, and he is no longer able to join with others in praise in the Temple. In Psalm 43 – vindicate me, part of his depression is because he is living in an ungodly, unfaithful nation. Certainly, we can relate to that. Sometimes the world we are living in is scary. Threats come from all sides causing us to wonder, where is God, as the writer was taunted in Psalm 42.
Often when someone is feeling depressed it is because of personal issues, negative self-talk, losses, and other difficult situations they are facing. Or there are chemical reasons for depression. Sometimes they may try to hide behind what is going on in the world rather than confront their demons.
I have known the frustration of trying to get someone to acknowledge that there might be reasons closer to home that are causing their sadness, rather than what is happening in the world.
“How can anyone not be depressed when you look at what is happening in the world?” they declare. “It’s not because (fill in the blank) …”
I have also caught myself doing this. Easier to rant about what is going on hundreds of miles away in Washington or thousands of miles away in the Middle East, China, or Russia, than deal with what is going on in my own backyard.
Still, there is something to be said about the depression that can be brought on by negative news constantly bombarding our ears. Depression brought on by living in a country filled with violence and that has strayed away from the truth. Such is the depression of the psalmist.
Are We Living in an Ungodly, Unfaithful Country?
Cal Thomas in his column from 9/24/2024 quotes John Adams: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” He then goes on to ask what happens when a majority appear no longer moral or religious? He claims we are getting what we deserve in terms of leadership. While I don’t always agree with Cal Thomas, I find his writing to be thought provoking.
Some would say we are definitely living in an ungodly, unfaithful country. We certainly are not as a nation living in accord with the values of Christianity or any of the other world religions. These religions all speak of care for the poor and the value of humility.
Even those who claim to be religious often follow false gods rather than the teachings of Jesus. Our great idol is greed. The acquisition of power, material wealth and winning at all costs supersedes the common good.
Psalm 43 – Vindicate Me!
When confronted with so much evil and discord, what can you do? One writer I know took a hiatus from reading all news and social media. He found it was not good for his soul. Much as I would like to do this, I choose not to because I believe it is important to know what is going on in the world in order to be in the world, yet not of the world. I continue to read online news. However, I limit my intake and avoid doomscrolling.
When confronted with so much evil and discord, what can you do? Throw yourself upon the mercy of our God like the psalmist in Psalm 43 – vindicate me. Demand that God take care of the situation, set it right and vindicate you. And then put your hope in God and raise your voice in praise.
What about you? How do you engage with the world without allowing it to overwhelm and depress you?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 43: A Sword in my Bones – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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