Psalms 13

Psalms 13:1-6

In this psalm we have the deserted feud’s only and cure. 1. David complains of inward desertion, and outward opposition, vers. 6, 2.

2. He begs of God to confide his cofe, and comfort him, vers. 3. 4. 3. He assures himself of an answer of peace, and therefore

concludes the psalm with joy and triumph, because he favors his deliverance as good as wrongful, vers. 5, 6.

¶ To the chief musician, A psalm of David.

1. HOW long wilt thou forget me, O LORD, for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3. Consider, and hear me, O LORD my God: ’lighten mine eyes,’ left I sleep the fire of death. 4. ‘Left mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me, rejoice when I am moved. 5. But I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation, & I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Though cast down by affliction, whilst we have a throne of grace open, we never need despair. Hither David flies with his complaints and prayers.

1. He bewails his present dejected state, and expellates with God on the length and severity of his sufferings. How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Not that God’s all-comprehending mind ever forgets, or that his people especially are neglected or forsaken of him; but it is the language of unbelieving fear, by which our foolish hearts aggravate their sorrows. For ever? Every moment seems long to the afflicted, especially to those, who, as the farmers of their other griefs, experience darkness and desertion in their souls. How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? with this support all other evils would be tolerable, but this withdrawn, adds aggravated weight to the burden. How long shall I take counsel in my soul? uncertain how to all, and filled with an vision care; whilst, in a labyrinth of trials, no way appears to extricate myself from them, having sorrow in my heart daily. Note, (1.) Long and daily sorrows are often the severe exercise of a christian’s faith. (2.) Our anxiety, and vain contrivances to help ourselves, often add to our burden, and, like birds fluttering in a wet, but the more entangle us. How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? either Said or Abfalom, or his spiritual enemies; for in our christian warfare, every faithful soul sometimes finds to his bitter grief the prevalence of sin.

2. In his distress, when fore thrust at, that he should fall, and the length of his trials almost overcoming his hopes of relief, he lifts up his heart to God. Consider, look upon my distressed ease with concern for my suffering; and hear me mourn in my prayer, O Lord my God, in whom I will still trust, though thou say me. Thou art my God, and I will never quit my plea of interest in thy regard. Note, If we can say, my God, under our deepest trials, surely there is hope of their end. The matter of his prayer is, Lighten mine eyes, dim with sorrows and fear; thine into me to dispel the clouds of unbelief; guide me in the way, that I may see the door of escape open; and be refreshed and comforted after this night of spiritual darkness, left I sleep the sleep of death, pine away in my body, decay in my soul, or perish in my iniquities. Note, Though God’s purposes are all sure, and his people cannot perish finally and eternally; yet they may be tempted to despair, and he brought into such circumstances as will awaken most jealous fears for themselves.

3. He urges the malicious pleasure his enemies would take in his fall, and the dishonour consequently which would be cast on God. Left mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; for Satan triumphs in the success of his devices; and those that trouble me, my persecuting foes, rejoice when I am moved; tempted to sin, or to despair under it. Note, The world takes a malicious pleasure in the christian’s fall; and men are happy if they can find any thing to make them hope he is no better than themselves.

4. He expresses his humble confidence, that amidst all he felt, God would support and comfort him. But I have trusted in thy mercy; merit I disclaim, hope or help in myself I have none, but in thee I trust; and therefore my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation: thine, for thou art able to save to the uttermost; and therefore I will encourage my soul in hope. I will sing unto the Lord, the gratitude of my heart shall speak in my joyful lips, because he hath dealt bountifully with me: he hath, for faith realises the promise, and given present fulfillment to the expected relief. Note, (1.) When we come to God in our miseries, in prayer to pour out our souls to him, he will send us away rejoicing, and like Hannah, our countenance shall no more be said, I Sam. i. 18. (2.) Singing psalms is the ancient practice of God’s faints; and wherever there is bound a heart to trust him, there will be a mouth to praise him.