How Long Will You Forget Me, O Lord? - Psalm 13

 

“A Prayer of the Church, or of a Believer, for deliverance from the Atheistic Faction” Bishop Horsley – (1733-1806) A Psalm of David.

13 How long will You forget me, O Lord? for ever? 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 shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Dennis Edwards: In the first two verses, the psalmist cries out four times, “How long?” That is often the question we ask God in our complaint, when we are going through some arduous trial or tribulation or persecution. How long will it last, Lord? When will you bring me through to the other side? Jesus even felt the abandonment of God on the cross and shouted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Many a martyr has felt abandoned by God. They had obeyed God and had stayed strong in their convictions, but ended up in the fire or on a cross, or facing some other cruel death. They were tempted to feel and think God had abandoned them

It looked as if God had abandoned Jesus, because Elijah didn’t come and save Him. Yet, three days later He rose from the dead and proved His Messiahship and victory over Satan and death. Apostle John wrote, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil,” 1 John 3:8b. Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8b. God knew beforehand that He would need to redeem His creation, you and me, by coming into the world and dying for us. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16.

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; ⁴ Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

The psalmist prays and asks God to enlighten him, to bring light back into his eyes from the discouragement he is feeling under the attacks of his enemies. His anguish of soul is so great, he feels like dying. He pleads with God to hear his prayer and let His presence bring release, surcease from anxiety and suffering.

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

By faith the psalmist proclaims victory and begins to praise the Lord before the answer has come. He reminds himself that God has always dealt positively with him in the past, and assures himself that God will do so once again. He is reminding both himself and God of God’s promise to rescue and save the righteous. He is reminding God of His faithfulness. The psalmist is offering the sacrifice of praise, even before the victory has come. His praise is manifesting the victory before he sees and feels it. He will soon have victory because He knows that God dwells in the praises of His people, Psalm 22:3.

It is good to give thanks and praise unto God. We enter into His presence with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, Psalm 100:4. Praise the Lord all you saints. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “Rejoice, evermore. And again, I say rejoice!” Philippines 4:6. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High: to show forth Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,” Psalm 92:1-2.

Let us be people of thanksgiving and praise. If you are going through a testing period and the clouds of discouragement have dimmed your view, look up! Your redemption is drawing nigh. Draw nigh to God and He promises to draw nigh to you. Lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, Hebrews 12:12-13. Don’t let discouragement cause you to fall out of the way. Resist the devil and he will flee from you, James 4:7. God wants to bring healing and victory. Hold onto His word. It is surer than everything else that exists. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but God’s word shall never pass away, Matthew 24:35. “For ever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven,” Psalm 119:89.

Lord, I believe, deliver me from my unbelief and lack of faith. Bring healing and victory! In Jesus’ name, I pray.