Psalms 43:1

“Judge me, O God, etc.] The Targum adds, with the judgment of truth; (see <450202>Romans 2:2); and plead my cause; which was a righteous one; and therefore he could commit it to God to be tried and judged by him, and could put it into his hands to plead it for him; (see Gill on “<193501>Psalm 35:1”); against an ungodly nation; meaning either the Philistines, among whom he was; or his own nation, when they joined his son Absalom in rebellion against him: some understand it of the great numbers that were with Saul, when he was persecuted by him; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man; either Absalom, who, under pretence of a vow he had vowed in Hebron, got leave of David to go thither,…”

“Excepting the recurrence of the refrain, there is no good reason to suppose this a part of the preceding, though the scope is the same. It has always been placed separate. (Psa 43:1-5) Judge--or, "vindicate" (Psa 10:18). plead, &c.-- (Psa 35:1). ungodly--neither in character or condition objects of God's favor (compare Psa 4:3).”

“Judge me, O God - This does not mean, Pronounce sentence upon me; but, Undertake my cause; interpose in my behalf; do justice in the case. He regarded his own cause as right; he felt that he was greatly wronged by the treatment which he received from people, and he asks to have it shown that he was not guilty of what his enemies charged on him; that he was an upright man, and a friend of God. See Psalms 7:8, note; Psalms 26:1, note. And plead my cause - See the notes at Psalms 35:1. “Against an ungodly nation.” Margin, unmerciful. Literally, “from a nation not merciful,” or not; religious. The idea is, that the nation or people referred to manifested none of the spirit of religion in their…”

“Nation - So he calls the company of his enemies for their great numbers. Man - Probably Achitophel or Absalom. Psalms 43:3”

“43:1-4 The psalmist turns to the Lord for rescue from his troubles, for guidance, for restoration, and for vindication.”

“am 2983, bc 1021 (Title), This Psalm is evidently a continuation of the preceding, and had the same author; and they are written as one in forty-six manuscripts The sameness of subject, similarity of composition, and return of the same burden in both, are sufficient evidence of this opinion. Judge: Psa 7:8, Psa 26:1, Psa 35:24, Psa 75:7; Co1 4:4; Pe1 2:23 plead: Psa 35:1; Sa1 24:15; Pro 22:23, Pro 23:11; Mic 7:9 ungodly: or, unmerciful the deceitful: Heb. a man of deceit and iniquity, Psa 71:4; Sa2 15:31, Sa2 16:20-23, Sa2 17:1-4 Psalms 43:2”

“The Elohimic Judica (the introit of the so-called Cross or Passion Sunday which opens the celebritas Passionis), with which the supplicatory and plaintive first strophe of the Psalm begins, calls to mind the Jehovic Judica in Psa 7:9; Psa 26:1; Psa 35:1, Psa 35:24 : judge me, i.e., decide my cause (lxx κρῖνόν με, Symmachus κρῖνόν μοι). ריבה has the tone upon the ultima before the ריבי which begins with the half-guttural ר, as is also the case in Psa 74:22; Psa 119:154. The second prayer runs: vindica me a gente impia; מן standing for contra in consequence of a constr. praegnans. לא־חסיד is here equivalent to one practising no חסד towards men, that is to say, one totally wanting in that…”