October 6, 2023 -- Psalm 43:3-5 -- The Psalm Series 43: Led by the Light and the Truth
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43:3-5 ESV
It is thought that Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 used to be one longer Psalm. Some early manuscripts of the Bible have them joined together. The refrain, which you can read at verse 5, is found in Psalm 42:5 and is repeated in verse 11. Psalm 42 opens with the sense of longing for the LORD God; but in Psalm 43 it switches and is more of a court setting. The writer is asking God to defend him in a world steeped in ungodliness.
The verses before us today open with the striking image of “send out Your light and Your Truth; let them lead me”. When I read this I think of the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they were led by a column of cloud by day and a fiery pillar by night (see Numbers 9:15-17). It was the Light of God’s presence that led them. As Christians today we have the Light of Christ (John 8:12). His Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth leads us by the Light of Jesus Christ to the holy hill. In the Old Testament that was a reference to Jerusalem, for us today it is the reference to the New Jerusalem—the City where God lives and believers who are in Christ will experience no more day, no more night, for God Himself will be all the light that is ever needed.
It is easy to look at the Old Testament and say, “Those crazy Israelites, how could they grumble and complain while the fire of God’s presence burned in the centre of their camp?!” Yet we have greater light, Jesus Christ. The full testimony of His good work and salvation is clearly written on Scripture’s every page. We have the better testimony. Let's be honest, even as we are sunning ourselves in this greater light we complain, mope and grumble.
So, it is fitting that Psalm 43 ends with the writer preaching to his own mind and soul and circumstances. He commands himself "Stop looking at what is dragging you down. Look to Him Who is your Light and Who is Truth". By faith today, I urge you to command your mind to put your full confidence in Jesus Christ and let your steps walk in the strength the Holy Spirit gives you. Let the Word burn within you, convicting, encouraging, teaching, mentoring until finally you see the Triune God at the Holy Hill, the New Jerusalem.
Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your great and glorious Name. How incredibly patient You are through-out the generations and centuries. The pages of Scripture show Your kindness and persistent faithfulness that is beyond all human comprehension. With the Psalmist we are praying that walking the Light of Jesus will be our life’s goal knowing the Truth of the Spirit will be our Guide so that our words and actions, our thoughts and our attitudes will be fully centred on You, our God and Vindication. Amen.
https://youtu.be/GdfQuGlFE2o?si=_yR6C6qK9YWcctYX "Jerusalem the Golden" Koine
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