Bible Studies

Psalm 13

Psalm 13
NKJV
Trust in the Salvation of the Lord
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

David had many thoughts in his heart but despite all his questions and thoughts, he brought them before God. David didn't just keep them but he gave them to God.

David's first question was about time, David felt as if God was delaying and he wondered how much longer. Second, he wondered if God remembered Him. David felt forgotten, he felt ignored. The time that passed led to these questions of doubt in David's heart which he poured before God. Like David, when tough situations prolong we start doubting God's presence with us. We wonder if this is still happening, where is God? This was a daily sorrow in his heart and he sought counsel in his soul. The time passing by led to having sorrow daily. Like we can as well, we can see delays as if the enemy is winning. We can feel as though we are losing, failing and all is going wrong as if the enemy meant for evil is succeeding and David didn't want this exaltation of the wicked, he wanted them to be humbled, brought down and put to shame.

3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Though David used Hebrew repetition. I would still like the fact it writes consider and hear me. To consider is to think carefully about and to hear is to listen. Here David told God to think carefully to listen to his distress. David prayed for enlightenment so that he doesn't fall the sleep of death. So many of us keep our burdens, the questions and worries on ourselves when we are called to cast them on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7) and what I've observed is it often leads to backsliding and people wanting to give up.

David mentioned how he took counsel in his own soul but as Christians, we seek our counsel from our counsellor, the Holy Spirit who gives clarity, peace, rest and comfort during the storms of life. When we neglect to go into prayer and seek to be enlightened, that fog over our eyes, blocking us from clearly seeing, the fog of doubts, questions, worries and fears to be cleared away by the word and truth of God's word we so easily fall the sleep of death spiritually and we become asleep. David's prayer of enlightenment is what I challenge you to pray about today. For all those who find themselves in verses 1-2, ask God to enlighten your eyes so you remain awake, on fire for God, in surrender, trust in who He is and find counsel in your Counselor. For David to pray about enlightenment, in other versions about lighting up the eyes and others speak about the spark. All are very different from death, in light there is clarity, in light there is hope, there is Christ and Christ as our light in us we can pray He lights up our eyes, with that fire, sparkle and hope that we don't fall into depression, pain and despair.

4 Lest my enemy say,
"I have prevailed against him";
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

David did not want his enemy or prevail against him. We have many enemies as believers, the kingdom of darkness, our flesh and even the world but as Children of God, we don't let sin, the enemy of this world dominate us. Like David despite every trial, every attack we can have a hope that despite our own attacks and issues, evil won't succeed, the enemy won't prevail, and we won't be crushed. We enter fire but won't be burned because the enemy will never prevail over us. Those against us, prosecuting us and seeking to bring us down will not rejoice for the enemy could've rejoiced for a minute at Christ's death but what looked like a defeat was ultimate victory. A victory we always have in Christ. Despite the enemy whispering doubts, questions, worry, anxieties and fears into our ears, we won't be overcome because by the power of our Counsellor, we continue to resist, hold thoughts captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and live for Christ! We can continuously pray that the plans and attacks of the enemy will not prevail but ultimately God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

David felt an attack to sleep the sleep of death but David interceded so he can remain in hope. He also didn't want the enemy to have satisfaction in his downfall but that he will stand. Jesus was soon about to die but despite all the pain He would soon endure, the enemy never got to see Jesus' downfall but His exaltation (Philippians 2:9-11) and so he won't see the downfall of the children of God but we go into glory, a hope outside this world.

5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

After pouring out his heart to God, his request for victory and perseverance, David ends with powerful faith. David starts with a but, a but he has trusted God. Despite his thoughts, he chose to trust God. Many things could bring him to worry but he did trust God's mercy. God's mercy is him not giving us what we deserve. His love, His care, His grace. David did trust in those things and he shall again.

David speaks in the future tense talking about what he will do, he will rejoice in God's salvation. He will rejoice in God's help. God had done so many things, God has saved him, David was here before, in the mud, in the deep waters but God saved him time after time. From his youth to his old, David had so much to thank God for. David said he'll sing to God because God has done bountifully.

David's BUT was powerful because his eyes were enlightened. He could now remember who he is crying out to. The one who saved him before he was anointed, king. The one who empowered him. The one who always delivered when he was distressed. To this David said he will sing a song to, for all God has done.

Despite going to God with our worries, doubts, fears, questions and anxieties, we can leave knowing God has delivered us before and He shall again. Our previous testimonies lead to even more testimonies because it's the strength we have to overcome new challenges. He gave strength before. He gave peace before. God was good before and I have too much to praise God for now than to worry because God will remain the same always. I can't stay being upset at what I see as God's delay (verse 1). I'm too grateful for God's salvation to think God has abandoned me (verse 1) and God is far too great for me to have sorrow in my heart and take counsel in my soul (verse 2).

And like that the Holy Spirit takes our anxiety and gives us hope. Despite us going through the fire, we can rejoice. Despite the waves, we can celebrate because God has been far too good. Whatever we are waiting for that seems to be in delay, we can hold unto our testimonies of His greatness to be our anchor and hope.