Psalm Thirteen: David prays. How long before things are better?
How long God, before this trial is over, or this burden is lifted, this pain goes away, the attack continues, or — you can fill in your own situation to finish the question?
David, a man after God’s own heart, had big trials like all the rest of us do. Things weren’t always right and rosy in David’s life. He stubbed his toe, broke the laces on his favorite pair of sandals, and accidentally had an affair with a naked woman he was peeking at. Oh, whoops, that was all his fault. That wasn’t a bad break, it was all on him.
He was godly — just like us I think
Anyway, David was a godly man, who endured a lot of trials. Many of them he brought on himself, by his actions or inactions. He was just like us. When things went south on him, just like we do, he complained to the Lord. In this Psalm, he complains and wonders how long before the Lord would ride in on a white horse and fix all his problems.
As a child of God, he had the right and the directive from the Lord to call on God for help. David did what he should have and he modeled for us what we should do when our trials and troubles overwhelm us. Even when we are partly to blame for our troubles, the Lord directs us to call out to Him for help.
But, that doesn’t mean that the rescue wagon will arrive just after we say Amen. Sometimes we have to wait days, weeks, or years. Despite what many teachers and preachers say, the Lord is not obligated to rescue you from your troubles. Let’s see how David comes around to that realization in this short Psalm.
Psalm 13:1 How long will this last?
“For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?”
David’s trial lasted longer than he was willing to endure. That’s like us, we can barely last five minutes in a trial, let alone as long as it needs to last for us to learn important lessons. He felt forgotten by the Lord. We are never forgotten, but it often feels like that because we have heard so often that God will never forsake us or leave us. That is true but we believe that means any trial will be quickly dealt with. Wrong, often years are required in order to help us learn important lessons so we can mature in our faith.
Psalm 13:2 How long until the sorrow ends?
“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”
He was ‘taking counsel in his soul.’ He was talking to himself, trying to tell himself things would get better, but he really wasn’t sure. When the hard times go a little too long, we begin to doubt God and his Word. The longer we can endure a trial before we get to this point is a sure test of our maturity. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the prison, though they had just endured a severe beating. The dried blood on their wounds was their only bandages, yet they rejoiced. Could we learn to do the same?
Not, me. I complain when my wife drinks the last cup of coffee. Why me Lord, why me?
Psalm 13:3 Lord, I’m dying here.
“Consider and answer me, O LORD my God. Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.”
Enlighten me, Lord, because I’m dying over here. David wasn’t a drama queen, he was a man of war who was not afraid to face death or giants. But as we read through his Psalms we do get the sense he played the drama card a little. I do need to be careful, or when I get to heaven, this man of war is going to smack me upside the head, but I think his sense of humor is probably much better now than it was when he was in the middle of one of his many trials. That’s just like us too, isn’t it?
Psalm 13:4 My enemies rejoice over me.
“And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.”
When David was down, his enemies rejoiced, they did the kabuki dance when he was in the midst of trials.
Psalm 13:5 I trust in God’s love for me
“But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”
As this short Psalm closes, we see that David does come around to where the Lord intended. Sometimes we just need to scream at the sky for a while before we realize the creator of the sky is our best help in time of need.
Psalm 13:6 The Lord is good to me
“I will sing to the LORD Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Yes, the Lord is good to me, to you, and to everyone else on the planet. Even those who despise his Word and Name. He is good to them as well.
Have you walked the Roman Road?
Let me know what you think.