Psalm 13

Psalm 13 – How Long?

It is a difficult psalm for interpretation. The first two verses begin with 4 questions. Or ONE question, repeated four times: HOW LONG? 

How long? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face? (Numbers 6:24-26)

How long must I take counsel in my soul (being self-taught) and have sorrow in my heart all the day? 

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

In a square shaped world (four corners), every corner of psalmist’s life is in distress. He feels that God forgot about him and hides His face. There is no other source of comfort but his own soul, but his heart (decision making organ) is in distress. Then the worst comes: his enemies exalt over him – they feel victorious!

We face these kinds of situations in our lives: when friends fail us, spouses are very sick, or there is a threat of losing a job with nowhere to go… All of these feelings resurface one after another…

But ultimately, this is what Jesus experienced on the Cross – My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). There is no inner source of comfort – for death is near (cp. v. 3b, sleep of death). And enemies were sure of their glorious victory.  

Reaction to “absence” of God – prayer

David wants to stay “in touch” with God: consider and answer… as a result of this communication – light up my eyes! Make my eyes shine – the second part of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).

Then come three “lest”

Lest I sleep the sleep of death

Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

The ultimate collapse – death – is a threat to the psalmist. The way it is written tells that it is not the final and peaceful rest (that’s why Christians write Rest in Peace [RiP]). It is an expectation of distress, collapse, and separation from God.

This might look like enemies prevailed… That the psalmist is shaking – unstable… 

But in the midst of his troubles his confession is strong:

I trusted in Your steadfast love.

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. God is the One who restores – us on our paths, life to life eternal, even the Son of God was brought back to live, to ascension, to sit at the right hand of the Father. 

I will sing to the LORD – worthy to note that there is a shift from proclaiming in Revelation 4 to singing in Revelation 5, just as the Lamb comes to the Throne of God. 

Because He has dealt bountifully with me – when we talk to other people about God, His love and care for us we share our personal interaction with Him. How blesses us day after day, providing food, roof, clothing etc. And never leaving us, no forsaking – regardless of how we feel…