RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5
Shalom,
Psalm 43:5 Why are You downcast, O my soul? Why are you murmuring within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, the salvation of my countenance.
Here we are at the last verse of Psalm 43. Let’s make a few observations. Psalm 43 stands out as being very short (only 5 verses) Beginning in Psalm 42 through Psalm 49 it is the only one NOT labeled, “a psalm of the sons of Korah.”
Rabbi Trail: This “Korah” is not the same Korah who led a rebellion against Moses as recorded in Numbers 16. That Korah and his sons were not writing Psalm in praise of God. Instead they were inciting others to rebel against Moses’ leadership. A heart filled with that level of bitterness would find it impossible to write such high praise of the Most High God. God thought so too and opened the earth to swallow them up. End RT.
Here is another observation… Our subject verse (Psalm 43:5) is identical to both Psalm 42:6(5) and Psalm 42:12(11). That’s right, all 3 verses are word-for-word identical. It repeats every 5 or 6 verses. Couple that with the observation that Psalm 43 is not ascribed to anyone in particular (as are the vast majority of Psalms) and I must speculate that Psalm 43 is really the last third of Psalm 42. I’m not sure how or when it was broken off of Psalm 42, but the evidence is compelling.
After all those structural observations, how about some spiritual insight into the content of Psalm 43:5. Rise up and shout praises!!! That’s the opposite of being downcast and murmuring. We translate the Hebrew word, “Ho’chi’li” (from Yud-Chet-Lamed, “Yachal”) as hope, but we have other words for “hope.” Yachal more accurately means to wait with expectation. It is first used in Genesis 8:12 to describe Noah as he “waited with expectation” for the flood waters to recede.
Finally, again (for the third time) we refer to “my God” as the Savior of my face (Yeshuat Panai). The Japanese use this term, it translates as “saving face.” This is more than “preserving my countenance” it includes rescuing my very being from certain destruction.
2Corinthians 1:10 He who rescued us from so great a danger of death will continue to rescue us—we have set our hope on Him that He will rescue us again.
Paul didn’t just make this up. He must have both read and memorized all the Psalms… Psalm 91:14 “Because he has devoted his love to Me, I will deliver him. I will set him securely on high, because he knows My Name. 15 When he calls on Me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu8-Jan-202619th of Tevet, 5786
Ex 3:16-4:172 Sa 23Ps 97-98 Lk 15(Gal 5)
Psalm 43:5 Why are You downcast, O my soul? Why are you murmuring within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, the salvation of my countenance.
Here we are at the last verse of Psalm 43. Let’s make a few observations. Psalm 43 stands out as being very short (only 5 verses) Beginning in Psalm 42 through Psalm 49 it is the only one NOT labeled, “a psalm of the sons of Korah.”
Rabbi Trail: This “Korah” is not the same Korah who led a rebellion against Moses as recorded in Numbers 16. That Korah and his sons were not writing Psalm in praise of God. Instead they were inciting others to rebel against Moses’ leadership. A heart filled with that level of bitterness would find it impossible to write such high praise of the Most High God. God thought so too and opened the earth to swallow them up. End RT.
Here is another observation… Our subject verse (Psalm 43:5) is identical to both Psalm 42:6(5) and Psalm 42:12(11). That’s right, all 3 verses are word-for-word identical. It repeats every 5 or 6 verses. Couple that with the observation that Psalm 43 is not ascribed to anyone in particular (as are the vast majority of Psalms) and I must speculate that Psalm 43 is really the last third of Psalm 42. I’m not sure how or when it was broken off of Psalm 42, but the evidence is compelling.
After all those structural observations, how about some spiritual insight into the content of Psalm 43:5. Rise up and shout praises!!! That’s the opposite of being downcast and murmuring. We translate the Hebrew word, “Ho’chi’li” (from Yud-Chet-Lamed, “Yachal”) as hope, but we have other words for “hope.” Yachal more accurately means to wait with expectation. It is first used in Genesis 8:12 to describe Noah as he “waited with expectation” for the flood waters to recede.
Finally, again (for the third time) we refer to “my God” as the Savior of my face (Yeshuat Panai). The Japanese use this term, it translates as “saving face.” This is more than “preserving my countenance” it includes rescuing my very being from certain destruction.
2Corinthians 1:10 He who rescued us from so great a danger of death will continue to rescue us—we have set our hope on Him that He will rescue us again.
Paul didn’t just make this up. He must have both read and memorized all the Psalms… Psalm 91:14 “Because he has devoted his love to Me, I will deliver him. I will set him securely on high, because he knows My Name. 15 When he calls on Me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu8-Jan-202619th of Tevet, 5786
Ex 3:16-4:172 Sa 23Ps 97-98 Lk 15(Gal 5)
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