Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2552 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll be exploring Psalm 43 in its entirety, focusing on verses 1 through 5 from the New Living Translation.
Psalm 43 is a short but powerful psalm, expressing a heartfelt cry for God’s help amid adversity. It’s closely connected to Psalm 42, as it echoes the same themes of longing for God, wrestling with discouragement, and choosing to hope in Him. In this psalm, the writer turns to God as his source of justice, light, and joy, offering us a beautiful model of faith amid trials.
Let’s begin by reading the passage together:
Psalm 43:1-5 (NLT)
1 Declare me innocent, O God!
Defend me against these ungodly people.
Rescue me from these unjust liars.
2 For You are God, my only safe haven.
Why have You tossed me aside?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?
3 Send out Your light and Your truth;
let them guide me.
Let them lead me to Your holy mountain,
to the place where You live.
4 There I will go to the altar of God,
to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise You with my harp,
O God, my God!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise Him again—
my Savior and my God!
What stands out in this verse is the writer’s understanding that true justice comes from God. Instead of taking matters into his own hands or retaliating against his enemies, he turns to God, trusting Him to act on his behalf.
Illustration:
I’m reminded of a story about a young man who was falsely accused of wrongdoing at work. Rather than becoming defensive or lashing out, he chose to act with integrity and trust that the truth would eventually come to light. In time, his innocence was proven, and his reputation was restored. Like the psalmist, this young man placed his confidence in a higher authority, knowing that justice ultimately belongs to God.
For us, this verse encourages us to bring our struggles with injustice to God. When we feel wronged or misunderstood, we can trust Him to be our defender, knowing He sees the truth even when others do not.
