Psalm 13: Despair giving way to truth

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

[Preliminary Comments: Another song from David. Remarkably short and concise yet it holds real revelation. His starting place is one verging on despair [v.1].  He has an enemy who may even threaten his very life [v.2]. The Lord doesn’t seem to be there for him. So he prays [v.3] and points out that surely the Lord [implied] won’t want the unrighteous to prevail over him [v.4]. But then, even as he is praying, he senses the truth – the Lord loves him [v.5a] and has always been good to him [v.6] and so will save him [v.5b] so he can rejoice.]

v.1 David feels that the Lord is not watching over him

v.1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?

v.2 He feels he is subject to the power of an enemy

v.2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

v.3 He calls to the Lord to save him lest he fall

v.3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

v.4 If that happens, his [unrighteous] enemy will triumph

v.4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

v.5 Yet, deep down he knows the Lord’s love that will act to save him

v.5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

v.6 This means he is free to praise the Lord for His goodness he has experienced.

v.6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

[Additional Thoughts: There is in this simple and short psalm a great truth: we may be down because of the hard things of life, but AS we pray, a right perspective is regained – no doubt aided by the Holy Spirit – whereby we realize God’s love is real and practical and is there for us [see also Rom 8:28]. But note it comes AS we pray. You need to be praying for this to happen!

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through:

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: