Psalm 43 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 43 Short Summary:

The psalmist asked the Lord to vindicate him from his enemies as he fought off discouragement due to constant opposition. The author’s confidence was in God, but the persistence of his enemies made him wonder why God hadn’t acted more quickly and decisively against them. In the end, he chose to “hope in God,” believing that God would come through for him in the end.

Psalm 43 Summary

AUTHOR:

• The Sons of Korah (a family of the Tribe of Levi).

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• No Known New Testament References.

THEMES:

• God will vindicate His servants.

• God is a refuge from evildoers and enemies

• You’ll never be disappointed if you put your hope in God.

DEFINITIONS:

• God’s Holy Hill – Before the Temple was constructed, this phrase referred to the location of the Tabernacle where the priests offered sacrifices to God on the Altar of Burnt Offerings.

OUTLINE:

• MY SALVATION AND MY GOD (43:1-5):

  • Psalm 43 has very familiar themes to previous psalms. In several ancient manuscripts, Psalm 42 and 43 are joined together as one.

  • The psalmist begins by praying for God to vindicate him. Ungodly and unlawful men were making his life hard and trying to smear his name.

  • The author’s confidence was in God, but the persistence of his enemies made him wonder why God hadn’t acted more quickly and decisively against them.

  • The psalmist asked for God’s light and truth to lead him out of his time of darkness and bring him to God’s altar for worship.

  • Psalm 43 ends with words reminiscent of Psalm 42:5 and 42:11.

  • “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” (43:5).

  • Even though the psalmist didn’t have relief from all his troubles, his hope for the future was firmly grounded in God.
    

APPLICATION:

• This psalm is just one of many that invokes the Lord for help with enemies.

• Why do you think men like David had so many enemies?

• Is it normal to have so many people oppose you?

• Maybe it was because David was a man of action. He wasn’t a man who stood around waiting to be led, he was the leader. He wasn’t a man who waited for permission to complete jobs that needed to be done, he took the initiative and finished them (remember Goliath?).

• When you’re busy trying to get things done, they’ll be people who want to hinder you.

• Leaders who shake things up are often opposed by those who want to keep things the way they’ve always been.

• Leaders who drive their people to be better will always find adversaries. This is true for those who lead in secular contexts and those who lead in the Church.

• Don’t let this discourage you from pursuing leadership, just be aware of it and be ready for it.

• Opposition is an unavoidable burden that all good leaders must bear.