The landscape changes a third time as the dawn announces the morning and reminds the psalmist of God’s light and truth (v. 3). The Lord had led Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and so His light and truth (faithfulness) would bring him back to Jerusalem. The innocent exile would be vindicated before his accusers and be rescued from an ungodly nation. His strength was in the Lord alone, the Rock of his salvation (42:9), and soon his despair would be replaced by joy. As they trust in the Lord, God’s people must remember that His goodness and mercy follow them (23:6), and His light and truth lead them (43:3; see 27:1; 26:3; 30:9; 40:10). God’s “holy hill” is Mount Zion, where God’s sanctuary was located, the dwelling place of God.
But the writer wasn’t exulting simply in freedom from his enemies and a return to his native home, but in the privilege of visiting God’s altar, offering his sacrifices, and praising the Lord. He has made great progress since he watched the hind seeking for water. The “living God” (42:2) became “the God of my life” (42:8), and now He is “God my exceeding joy … God, my God (43: nasb). His focus is no longer on himself, his disappointments, or his circumstances, but on the Lord his God, and that makes all the difference. The refrain in 43: must not be read with the same dejected voice as 42: and 11, for faith in Jehovah has changed everything. The New American Standard Bible and the New King James Version translate verse 5, “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance, and my God.” The word help can be translated “health.” When by faith we see the face of God smiling upon us (Num. 6:22–27), our own countenance brightens up and becomes spiritually healthy. We know God is for us, that God will set us free and guide us to His Holy City, where we shall worship Him and sing His praises. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (30: nkjv).