How Long, O Lord? – Psalm 13

January 9, 2022
James Stone
Anxiety, Confidence, Desiring God, Despair, Emotions, Faith, Prayer
Voice of the Heart
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How Long, O Lord? – Psalm 13

Psalm 13 – For the director of music. A psalm of David.

This Psalm of David is for all of us (for the “Director of Music”, so it was for everyone).

We lament. (verses 1-2)

¹How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
²How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Psalm 13:1-2

“How long?” So many “how longs” in life. Close companions or unwelcome visitors. Are we allowed to ask? Is it ok to ask God that?

4 “how longs”.
It’s Ok to tell God. He knows anyway. He won’t think we are impolite.
David says “O Lord”, so his question is not a sign of absent or little faith.

We ask. (verses 3-4)

³Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Psalm 13:3-4

David, feeling forgotten, turns to God in prayer. Lousy logic, but excellent faith.
David looks to his God to overcome his enemies. Who else would we turn to?

Certainty (verses 5-6)

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13:5-6

David trusts, rejoices, even sings because of God’s unfailing love.

Are any of your “How longs” beyond the scope of David’s Psalm?

Title image from Photo by Raychan on Unsplash

New International Version – UK (NIVUK)