Psalm 43

Psalm 43
The short 43rd psalm, while containing the theme of the 42nd is marked by a development of confidence in God which rightly follows that out-pouring of the soul in distress. In character this is according to Christian experience (see Philippians 4:6-76Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6‑7)).
"Judge me," in verse 1 is in effect, "Do me justice." The ungodly nation is of course the mass of the Jews who by this time are following to their ruin, the man variously called "the beast" (Rev. 13:1111And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)); "the man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-43Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3‑4)); "the wicked king" (Daniel 11:3636And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)); "the Antichrist" (1 John 2:2222Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)) him who "shall come in his own name" (John 5:4343I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)); the "foolish shepherd" (Zechariah 11:15-1715And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:15‑17)), and in our psalm, "the deceitful and unjust," or unrighteous man.
"The God of my strength" (verse 2), and "the God of the gladness of my joy" as the fourth verse should be read (see the margin), are titles which indicate that there will be (as there should be) a growing knowledge of Him, for these expressions go beyond those we noticed in the 42nd psalm. God, there, was the life giver, and the immovable rock of His people's defense; here, He is their strength for life's battles, and He who is the source of their happiness, though they be in the furnace of affliction.
Verse 4 looks for a return to Jerusalem, as the same verse in Psalm 42 looked back to former days there.