For an introduction to Psalm 43, see the introductory comments on Psalm 42.

43:1–5 The psalm’s first petitions, “judge me” (Hb. šopṭēnî, NIV vindicate me) and plead my cause, are legal in nature and might lead us to speculate about circumstances of false accusation (see Ps. 7). The petitions of 43:3, however, clearly pray for God’s light and truth to escort the speaker to God’s holy mountain. We should also observe that the psalms of temple entry (see the Introduction) use legal language for God to “judge me” (26:1) and spare the speaker from the impending fate of the wicked (26:9–10; 28:3; cf. 5:6; 24:4). Psalm 74:22 uses the same expression, “plead your cause” (both use Hb. rîbâ rîb), in connection with God’s “dwelling place” (Hb. miškān i…