Psalm 13: The Lord is Always With Us

"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 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 13:1-2

This morning we find ourselves in the depths of Psalm 13. In this Psalm, David is distraught, which we can clearly see from the first two verses. David four times in a short two verses asks the Lord, "how long?" The trial that David has been in has lasted a long time, and he's sick of it. He's ready to be done; he's ready to move on.

But what was the trial that David was experiencing? Well, we firstly find that this trial at least made David feel like the Lord had forgotten him. In the depth of his pain, David felt like the Lord had left him alone. He felt as if the Lord had hidden his face from him, and turned his sovereign hand of blessing from him. Secondly, David's struggle was internal. Although there was likely an external component, David found himself having to take counsel in his own soul. He found himself having sorrow in his heart. Though there were most likely external factors as well, David's true struggle was inside of himself--his heart was in turmoil. Lastly, David's struggle involved an enemy. There was one exalting himself over David. There was one out to destroy him.

But what does David do amidst his struggles? Does he push them aside? Does he complain to his friends? Does he try to conquer them in his own strength? No. He lifts them up to the Lord. Although it felt like the Lord was far from him, David clung to what he knew was true: the Lord was always there to answer his call.

Thus, David exclaims to the Lord in verse 3: "Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death." Here, David gives his request. Simply, he wants to be delivered from his pain. He wants the darkness of his world to be lit up by the Lord's gracious light. He wants the Lord to deliver him so that he would not perish. He wants his enemy to perish so that he might not rejoice over him (see v. 4).

But in this Psalm, we do not see the Lord (yet!) answering David's request. Although we do find some Psalms where the Lord answers the psalmist's request before the end of the Psalm, this Psalm is not one of them. Thus, what does David do? When the Lord doesn't answer his request, where does he turn?

Answer: to the steadfast love of God. Although his trial continues, and although it still seems as if the Lord's face is turned from him, David trusts in God's steadfast love. In fact, he even states that his heart will "rejoice in [the LORD's] salvation" and that he will "sing to the LORD." Why? "Because [the LORD] has dealt bountifully with [him]." Once again, David's struggles are not yet resolved. But amidst his struggles, he fixes his eyes on the constancy of the Lord's character and on his past deliverance. David is not yet rescued from his trial, but he knows that he will be, because the Lord has rescued him before, and he will do so again.

This morning, let David's prayer here be a pattern for you in your life. As I've attempted to outline above, this Psalm has three parts: lament, request, and thanksgiving. Firstly, in any and every trial, we ought to lift our eyes to the one who can help. Complaining to friends won't do us any good, but crying out to the Lord certainly will. Secondly, we request our need for deliverance. God has graciously told us to ask of him all things in prayer. We can go to him with our requests and rely on him to deliver us from our fears. Lastly, we thank the Lord. Though he may not have delivered us yet, we thank him for his past goodness and realize that he will always do what is best for us, even if it means leaving us in our trials at the current moment.

I pray, this morning, that whoever reads this devotional might trust in the Lord's steadfast love, even amidst their greatest and longest trials. Amen.