Psalms 13:1-6
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, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest 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.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:1. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
When you and I have to spread our complaints before God, we are not the first who have done so. When we complain of God's forsaking us, we are not alone. There was a greater than David who, even in the article of death, cried, «My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?»
Psalms 13:3. Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
When it is dark, very dark, we get drowsy. Sorrow induces sleep. Remember how the Saviour found the disciples sleeping for sorrow. Therefore David asks for light. Light will help him to keep awake, and he fears to sleep, so he prays, «Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.»
Psalms 13:4. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and these that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
But what a precious «but» this is! You can hear the chain rattle as the anchor goes down to hold the vessel.
Psalms 13:5. 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.
What a climb there is, in this Psalm, from the abyss of sorrow up to the summit of joy! «I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me.» I hope many of us know what this blessed change means. If any of you are in great sorrow tonight, may my Lord and Master lighten your eyes!
This exposition consisted of readings from PSALMS 12, 13, and 14.