#723 Turmoil Within

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause

against an ungodly people,

from the deceitful and unjust man

deliver me!

2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;

why have you rejected me?

Why do I go about mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 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 ESV

No title, but given the style, it is most probable to be an appendix to Psalm 42.

Deceitful and unjust man - The poet describes those who he would like to be vindicated upon. One is always at a disadvantage when he comes against the deceitful. God has said, "thou shall not lie," yet the deceitful, the wicked, the self righteous, those without fear of God, uphold that others should not lie, but for them it is a justifiable means. "It is just business, it is the nature of politics, what she does not know does not hurt her, I stand by my words." It is unfortunately the most natural thing to a fallen nature to say what we think others want to hear, whether true, possible or not. It is said of us that we will exchange the truth for a lie, if the lie sounds better. To tell the truth, or hold your tongue no matter the consequence, is to give up witchcraft, to set aside sorcery, to walk by faith. It is so easy to lie, and it so easy for us to justify it to ourselves. Abraham told Sarah, tell them you are my sister, his son Isaac told his wife, Rebekah, to do the same. The justification to lie was a survival mechanism, it was based on the actions of others, the possible actions of others, fallen humanity. God hates it and tells us not to do it. We do it, yet still see ourselves as honest people, possibly because we know someone who does it more. A liar is someone who tells lies, finding someone who lies more often does not vindicate me. 

43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!…John 8: 43-45

Send out Your light - If you have been falsely accused then light upon it, the truth, may vindicate you, but I have seen where that is not the case. I have seen where those who believed the lie about you were sorely disappointed that it was not true, and did not care to hold those who lied to any accountability. We then need the light of God in our own lives to help us understand, why are you downcast, oh my soul? God, I am telling the truth but they are still making more lies about me, why does it not come to an end? Why are they not so severely dealt with? God, the damage is done, the truth has come out, but those that hate me prefer the lie about me. 

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.…Matthew 5: 10-12

Men lie about God, and we don't bat an eye, men lie about us and we higher lawyers, call the media, throw fit and fists, but no one really cares so desperately for the truth, that they hate the lie as much in themselves. 

My salvation and my God - The Psalmist must look up, comparing ourselves to other fallen human beings will bring us no closer to the truths of God. Compare yourself to the standard of Christ, and we will see that salvation belongs to God, that men cannot save, and that there is none righteous. 

31So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”…John 8: 31-33

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[b] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[c] who is at the Father's side,[d] he has made him known. John 1: 14-18

Praise the Lord, Praise Lord, let the earth hear His voice.