Psalms 13

Psalms 13:1

Psalms 13

The occasion of this Psalm was David’ s deep and long-continued distresses, from which he prays for deliverance.

David complaineth to God of his delay to help, , and the enemies’ triumph, . He, praying for preventing grace, ,4 professeth his trust in God, , and boasteth of Divine mercy, .

How long wilt thou forget, i.e. neglect or disregard, me? for ever I

how long wilt thou withdraw thy favour and assistance?

Psalms 13:2

How long shall I be in such perplexities and anxieties of mind, not knowing what course to take, nor how to get out of my troubles?

Psalms 13:3

Lighten mine eyes; either,

1. Because I find my counsel insufficient, , do thou enlighten my mind, and guide me by thy counsel and Spirit into the right way of obtaining thy mercy and help. So this phrase is used . Or,

2. Do thou revive, and comfort, and deliver me from the darkness of death, which is ready to come upon me and to close mine eyes. Nothing is more common than to express great dangers and calamities by darkness, and great comforts and deliverances by light, as 17:13 30:26, and by an enlightening of the eyes, as . Compare 29:13.

Lest I sleep the sleep of death, i.e. lest I sink under my burden and die; for death is oft called a sleep in Scripture, as 14:12 .

Psalms 13:4

I have prevailed against him, to wit, by my art or strength; which will reflect dishonour upon thee, as if thou wept either unfaithful and unmindful of thy promises, or unable to make them good. Therefore repress this their arrogancy and blasphemy, and maintain thine own honour.

When I am moved; or, stumble, or fall, to wit, into mischief.

Psalms 13:5

Neither their threats and brags, nor my own dangers, shall shake my confidence in thy mercy promised to me.

Psalms 13:6

Either,

1. In giving me that support and assurance of his favour which for the present I enjoy. Or,

2. In giving me that mercy which he hath freely promised me; it being a common thing for David and other prophets to speak of future deliverances as if they were already come, that so they may signify both the infallible certainty of the thing, and their firm assurance thereof. But the words may be rendered, when he shall have

dealt bountifully with me. This verb properly signifies to requite, or reward, but here it signifies a free and bountiful giving, as it doth also 142:7.