Psalm 13

In the previous Psalm 12, David was upset because even his most loyal friends had abandoned him.  As bad as that is, David describes an even worse situation in this Psalm.

What could be worse?

David now feels abandoned by God.  As Singer/song writer, Bruce Cockburn, observed, there are times “when the high vault of heaven looks far away and cold.”

Psalm 13 (NIV)

A psalm of David. For the choir director.

 How Long, How long, How Long?

1 How long, Lord?  Will you forget me forever?
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?

 1.  Despair: David is depressed

a.  How Long?  Feeling abandoned by God.

b.  How long?  At odds with himself. Wrestling with negative thoughts and unrelenting sorrow.

c.  How Long?  Believing his enemies are getting the upper hand.
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.		 2.  Desperation: David Pleads to God

a.  The situation is so desperate that David thinks he is in danger of death.

b.  David pleads to God, don’t give my enemies the satisfaction of knowing they overcame me.  He reminds God that if David dies evil folks will rejoice in the downfall of God’s chosen.  So please God, don’t stay far-off, “Look on me and answer.”

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.

3. Declaration: David Trusts God

Despite his subjective, changeable feelings David choses to trust in God’s unfailing love.

Despite your circumstances remember how God has been good to you!  And Sing!

Here’s the lesson that David learned and is teaching us in this song he wrote for the choir director;  the high vault of heaven may seem far away and cold, God might seem far off, but no matter how you may feel subjectively, God’s love is unfailing and his salvation is sure.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8:38-39

Now that is something we should be singing about!

By Richard Loper