This Psalm, which I would categorize as a lament, is, like many of the previous psalms, intended to be accompanied by music as its title is "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David." Going forward I probably won't be flagging these as all of the psalms have at one point or another been set to music so while it may have some significance when the title specifically calls for musical accompaniment I don't know that its lack of designation is all that telling (the passage of time confuses many issues - perhaps at some point there really was such distinguishing).
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
(Psalm 13:1 ESV)
The first line of this Psalm echoes the lament of Psalm 10 where we find David outside (or at least perceiving himself to be) of the presence of God and searching for him. It's worth noting that the last three psalms preceding this one all start on a down note. Because so many psalms are what I would call "mixed" in content, that is they are a mix of lament, praise, worship, condemnation of the enemy, etc. it's hard to categorize a psalm as just one type (although not impossible and some psalms do lend to this) so while I can't say that all of the psalms from 10 through 13 are "laments" there is a consistent "down" tone in them even if they are mixed.
It not infrequent that the saints lament the loss of the presence and I think this is part of the spiritual walk. I call this "spiritual peekaboo." The game of "peekaboo" works (in my understanding anyways) because a child does not have the concept of "object permanence," so when you put your hands over your face the child, without enough experience to understand that the last time you reappeared and the time before that you reappeared so you will, eventually, reappear, thinks that you're actually gone (BBC article for reference). So it is with spiritual peekaboo, God has hidden from us and we are lacking in enough "spiritual" object permanence to know that because God is eternal and he will never forsake us that no matter how long he hides his face from us he's never actually gone. As we grow in our faith we grow out of this game of spiritual peekaboo, understanding that God, of all things (perhaps the only thing?), has object permanence.
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
(Psalm 13:2 ESV)
In the bible saints are mocked (Hannah vs. her adversary, Sarah vs. Hagar), tricked (Jacob vs. Laban), abandoned (Joseph vs. his brothers), threatened with death (Mordecai/Esther vs. Haman), amongst other things. Their trials can last beyond what one would think could be endured: 20 years of unfair labor conditions (Jacob), untold years working in a foreign land and then imprisoned (Joseph), 40 years in exile (Moses), again, amongst others (let us not forget Job!). Many of our trials involve enduring the exaltation of the wicked, sometimes at our expense. But endure we must if we are to grab hold of the crown of eternal life. This, from George Hutcheson, "We are indeed very sparing of ourselves in trouble, and do so begin to think that we are low and tried enough, and therefore would be delivered; but our wise Lord seeth that we need more." (C.H. Spurgeon notes)
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him,"
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
(Psalms 13:4 ESV)
As C.H. Spurgeon notes, we would do well to plead the reputation of God, which is at stake should his godly ones be overcome by the enemy.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
(Psalm 13:5-6 ESV)
I think it suffices to quote from Matthew Henry and let that be the end of the matter: "None live so easily, so pleasantly, as those that live by faith."
Lord, we know there will be ups and downs, summers and winters, victories and defeats in the life of every saint. But you are faithful, steadfast and immutable. Though we may vary in our temperaments and in our faith you never change. May that knowledge comfort us in the midst of our tribulations. Amen.
*ESV=English Standard Version
** I do recommend reading through the end notes for Spurgeon's commentary for this Psalm as I found there were a lot of worthwhile comments but I just didn't want to bog down the flow of this post.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
(Psalm 13:1 ESV)
The first line of this Psalm echoes the lament of Psalm 10 where we find David outside (or at least perceiving himself to be) of the presence of God and searching for him. It's worth noting that the last three psalms preceding this one all start on a down note. Because so many psalms are what I would call "mixed" in content, that is they are a mix of lament, praise, worship, condemnation of the enemy, etc. it's hard to categorize a psalm as just one type (although not impossible and some psalms do lend to this) so while I can't say that all of the psalms from 10 through 13 are "laments" there is a consistent "down" tone in them even if they are mixed.
It not infrequent that the saints lament the loss of the presence and I think this is part of the spiritual walk. I call this "spiritual peekaboo." The game of "peekaboo" works (in my understanding anyways) because a child does not have the concept of "object permanence," so when you put your hands over your face the child, without enough experience to understand that the last time you reappeared and the time before that you reappeared so you will, eventually, reappear, thinks that you're actually gone (BBC article for reference). So it is with spiritual peekaboo, God has hidden from us and we are lacking in enough "spiritual" object permanence to know that because God is eternal and he will never forsake us that no matter how long he hides his face from us he's never actually gone. As we grow in our faith we grow out of this game of spiritual peekaboo, understanding that God, of all things (perhaps the only thing?), has object permanence.
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
(Psalm 13:2 ESV)
In the bible saints are mocked (Hannah vs. her adversary, Sarah vs. Hagar), tricked (Jacob vs. Laban), abandoned (Joseph vs. his brothers), threatened with death (Mordecai/Esther vs. Haman), amongst other things. Their trials can last beyond what one would think could be endured: 20 years of unfair labor conditions (Jacob), untold years working in a foreign land and then imprisoned (Joseph), 40 years in exile (Moses), again, amongst others (let us not forget Job!). Many of our trials involve enduring the exaltation of the wicked, sometimes at our expense. But endure we must if we are to grab hold of the crown of eternal life. This, from George Hutcheson, "We are indeed very sparing of ourselves in trouble, and do so begin to think that we are low and tried enough, and therefore would be delivered; but our wise Lord seeth that we need more." (C.H. Spurgeon notes)
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him,"
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
(Psalms 13:4 ESV)
As C.H. Spurgeon notes, we would do well to plead the reputation of God, which is at stake should his godly ones be overcome by the enemy.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
(Psalm 13:5-6 ESV)
I think it suffices to quote from Matthew Henry and let that be the end of the matter: "None live so easily, so pleasantly, as those that live by faith."
Lord, we know there will be ups and downs, summers and winters, victories and defeats in the life of every saint. But you are faithful, steadfast and immutable. Though we may vary in our temperaments and in our faith you never change. May that knowledge comfort us in the midst of our tribulations. Amen.
*ESV=English Standard Version
** I do recommend reading through the end notes for Spurgeon's commentary for this Psalm as I found there were a lot of worthwhile comments but I just didn't want to bog down the flow of this post.
