Psalm 13:1-16 – by Dennis Barker
This psalm was probably written by David during the difficult years of exile from King Saul. During his exile David confessed that, “there is a step between me and death” (I Samuel 20:3). By God’s grace, David turned his suffering into songs that help to encourage the believer in times of trials. The Lord allowed David to pour out his anxiety before him. But by the end of the psalm, David’s prayer ends with God giving him a correct perspective of the situation. In this brief psalm, David deals with his feelings, his enemies and his faith.
In verses 1-2, David pours out his heart concerning his inward struggles and feelings. God had promised David the throne of Israel, yet he saw King Saul doing evil things and it seemed like God was not judging him. Yet David was doing good things and he felt like God had abandoned him. The phrase “How long, O Lord” indicates that David was disturbed by what the enemy was doing, but he was more concerned about what the Lord was not doing. When we are in trouble and pray for help, but none comes, we tend to feel deserted. David felt like God was ignoring him and that God’s alienation was final. He also, felt that God was hiding His face from him instead of smiling upon him.
Feeling like he was abandoned by God, David tried to devise ways to overcome the enemy, but nothing seemed to help. Faith is living without scheming; not leaning on our own experiences and skills and trying to plot our own way. We must not deny our feelings and pretend that everything is going well. It is not sin to ask, “How long?” But, we must realize how deceptive our feelings are, and that God is greater than our hearts and can lift us above the emotional storms of life.
David learned to replace the question “How long, O Lord?” with “My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14-15. This is a lesson that we must all learn.
Verses 3-4 speaks of David’s outward struggles with his enemies. When the mind and body are weary, it is easy to be discouraged. David requested that the Lord “Consider and hear me.” David felt that God had hidden His face from him, and he wanted God to turn His face toward him again. A second request, “hear Me,” was that the Lord would answer him and send some kind of encouragement. David felt he had been deserted and that his prayers were accomplishing nothing. A third request, “enlighten my eyes” involved spiritual explanation and physical and emotional vitality and strength.
David was concerned about his own needs, but he was more concerned with the glory of God. God had chosen David and had commanded Samuel to anoint him King. If David failed, God’s name would be ridiculed. “Don’t allow the enemy to gloat over me.” The word “moved” in verse 4 means “to waver, to be troubled. If David began to waver, the faithful people of the land would think that God was unable to fulfil His own promises.
Verses 5-6 declares David’s Faith. The word “but” indicates a transition from fear and questioning God’s promises to faith. David’s feelings had been on a roller coaster, but God was still on the throne, and His character had not changed. God’s mercy (steadfast love) was all David needed, for it would never fail. God’s people don’t live on explanations; they live on promises, and those promises are as unchanging as the character of God.
Relying on the Lord leads to rejoicing in the Lord and His salvation. The word “bountiful” focuses on the goodness of God and His generosity in dealing with His people in grace.
