PSALM 13 \u00a0David starts out in discouragement and despair, but finishes it in trust, joy, and encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 and my enemy will say, \u201cI have overcome him,\u201d and my foes will rejoice when I fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6 I will sing the Lord\u2019s praise, for he has been good to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SECTIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I Below \u201csea level\u201d expressions of Despair (verses :1-2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n II \u201cSea Level\u201d Expressions of Desire (verses 3-4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n III \u201cMountaintop Level\u201d Expressions of Delight (verses 5-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n THEME<\/u><\/strong>: How Long Oh Lord must we endure, or go through this trial?<\/p>\n\n\n\n QUESTIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What questions does David ask in this psalm?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When have you felt God was hiding his face from you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you think David meant by \u201cwrestle with my thoughts?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does David mean when he asks God to give light to his eyes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does David trust in? Do you trust in the same thing or is their doubt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our enemy, the devil, can often seem to say the same things David\u2019s physical enemies say, \u201c I have over come her\/him and rejoice when we fall into temptation. When was a time the enemy seemed to triumph over you? Did you overcome him? How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n David starts the psalm with desparation. How does he end it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADDITIONAL VERSES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeremiah 29:11″For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proverbs 21:30: \u201cThere is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Chron. 20:6L O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in Heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prov. 19:21:\u201dMany are the plans in a man\u2019s heart, but it is the Lord\u2019s purpose that prevails.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah 30:18 \u201cTherefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you. And therefore he waits on high to have have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are those who long for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah 30:15 In repentence and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blueletterbible.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How long, O Lord? It seems that every child of God has asked this question or has felt neglected by God – or at least that they\u2019ve waited a long time for God to answer. Can you sense David\u2019s intense desire for deliverance, and great anguish? Often we get worn-out and discouraged. We feel we could endure almost anything if we knew when the pain would end. It\u2019s easy to be impatient and start to complain after we\u2019ve suffered a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David asks, \u201cWill You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? \u201cThere\u2019s a sense that God has forgotten him and is distant. David may have faced worse circumstances, but he felt more courage when he sensed God\u2019s presence. Now that God seems distant, David falls into despair, a victim of his feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a balance when it comes to feelings. Some people think we should ignore them and that feelings shouldn\u2019t enter into our relationship with God. But God has given us feelings as an expression of His image in us. We can feel anger, love, and sorrow because God feels them too. Feelings are a gift from God-a sign that we\u2019re made in His image. However some people are ruled by their feelings. They believe whatever they feel must be true. But feelings can\u2019t always be trusted. We must be careful that our feelings are based on actual reality. If we feel unloved or deserted by God, that\u2019s not the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David desperately cried out to God to hear him. After running from Saul, he was so worn out emotionally that he felt as though he might die. David knew that his vision was clouded and he wasn\u2019t seeing God\u2019s reality, so he cried “Enlighten my eyes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n APPLICATIONS: 1)When you can’t trust anything else, trust in God’s mercy. 2)David knew he had to start rejoicing. He started looking for his blessings and rejoicing. This is a great example to us. 3) David expressed his love to God by singing, which also brought David joy. 4) Try singing songs to God next time you feel like complaining or feel sad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n scripturestudies.com<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s hard for us to wait on the Lord in times of trouble. We have our time schedule for when God should get things done, but God rarely follows it. But unlike our timing, His timing is perfect. We remember David’s reign as king, but we forget how long he waited to be king and how much suffering he experienced while he was waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David prayed that God would “give light to his eyes.\u201d He wanted to understand why <\/em>he was forced to endure affliction. How many times have we asked the same thing? Why God? David was in agony because he didn\u2019t understand the reason behind the things happening. But note that he didn\u2019t ask to be delivered from his trial just to know why he had to go through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n APPLICATION: But David had a change of heart when he remembered God’s character and what God had done in the past. He resolved to worship God, singing \u201cHe has been good to me.” This is faith. God has never failed us so why would He start now? In trouble let\u2019s reflect on God’s past goodness to us and rejoice. In the end, David’s faith conquered his despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Father, help us to live by faith. Help us to count on Your unfailing love, and not to be fooled by external circumstances. Help us to remember Your faithfulness in the past to get us through troubles. And help us sing praises to you in affliction. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gotquestions.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible tells the story of Job, who goes through a terrible time of pain and suffering. He\u2019s lost all of his children, his wealth, and his health. His friends are of no help. His wife offers no support and, in fact, tells him to give up (Job 2:9). Job feels as though his life is over. The only thing left is to die. Have you ever felt that way? But in Job 13:15, he does a turn around and declares, \u201cThough he slay me, yet will I hope in him.\u201d How does that happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job starts out saying that he\u2019s innocent (Job 13:16). But then he realizes it\u2019s a mistake to say he\u2019s without sin. He says, \u201cSurely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know\u201d (Job 42:3). \u201cI despise myself and repent in dust and ashes\u201d (Job 42:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job come to realize that, ultimately, the suffering he endures is being allowed by God. God has the right and the power to \u201cslay\u201d him. But Job knows even if he dies, he will be with God. He doesn\u2019t understand \u201cwhy\u201d these things are happening to him anymore than David did but, like David, Job knows that God is good, loving, and trustworthy. Oh to have that kind of confidence in the loving goodness of our Lord that Job and David had!<\/p>\n\n\n\n My reflection on psalm 13: <\/u><\/strong>Sometimes I feel I deserve to suffer because of things I\u2019ve done. Other times I wonder why is God letting this happen to me? What did I do? Both Job and David realized they might never know the answer to \u201cwhy.\u201d But they rest on what they do know about the God\u2019s character. He\u2019s in control over our lives. That would be a terrifying thought if we didn\u2019t know God\u2019s character and thought he was out to get us or didn\u2019t care for us or have compassion or love for us. But since I learned about the true character of God from studying the bible I came to realize there is no one we can trust more than God. He not only loves us beyond measure but he really does want the best for me though it may not seem like it when I\u2019m suffering a trial in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love the story of Jonah which clearly shows God\u2019s character. God wanted to show his mercy to Ninevah, a city that was violent and full of corruption. The peple there had never shown an ounce of mercy to their enemies. He wanted to send his prophet Jonah to preach o them and warn them to confess their sins and turn to God before he sent judgment and destroyed their city. But Jonah had no desire to preach mercy and redemption to his enemies. Jonah says to God, \u201cThis is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion\u2014One who relents from sending disaster.\u201d Jonah didn\u2019t want God to show mercy to these wicked people. Send those lightning bolts down God! Judge my enemies. Oh I\u2019ve prayed that prayer before, especially after 911. God answers Jonah, \u201cAnd should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left–and also many animals?” I was amazed that God was so merciful that his mercy even extended to the animals! This is the true nature of the God we serve. In 2 Peter 3:9 it says, \u201cThe Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.\u201d So if God is this patient and merciful with people who are wicked, and are enemies of his own people, then I know he will extend even more mercy to me in my trials. But I have to trust he has good reason to allow me to go through whatever pain I\u2019m suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We are children of God and we\u2019re protected in way that a nonbeliever is not. But God protects what is most important to him–our spirits. He nurtures, comforts and protects. He keeps us close to his heart. If we turn to him, he\u2019ll get us through anything. We may still experience pain, suffering, and grief like Job. But ultimately we will come through it with a better understanding of how much God comforted, strengthend, held us up, and grew our faith through it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I face overwhelming trials in the future and my faith is tested, I hope I can join Job in saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job 2:32 The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet I will trust him;<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job 2:10 “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raystedman.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The book of Job reveals God\u2019s character.\u00a0 Average people on the street, if they think of God at all, think of Him as being impersonnal, distant, and demanding-an angry God. That\u2019s a common view of God in the world today. This God is commonly called the Old Testament God, as though God were two kinds of beings, one in the Old Testament and one in the New. But God never changes. He is deeply aware of our problems and concerned about us, carefully controlling everything that touches us. He limits the power of Satan, according to His wisdom. He is patient, forgiving, and ultimately responsible for all that happens. Actually we should all be grateful that we are chosen by God to be the ones who honor God, even in trials and affliction. There is no higher honor than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patchnaz.net<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In one 24 hour period Job lost everything that he had ever worked for his entire life. In one day it was all gone. I\u2019ve learned along the way that it doesn\u2019t pay to trust in material things because you can lose them in a moment. Praise God, that there is one thing that adversity can\u2019t take from us- our salvation and position in Jesus. We can lose our material possessions, our health, even our loved ones, but we can never lose our soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disease Tortured Job\u2019s body \u2013 He broke out in terrible, painful boils from head to toe and began to suffer physically. Being saved and set apart for God doesn\u2019t exempt us from suffering. Some of the greatest Christians I know have gone through physical suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Death Touched Job\u2019s Family \u2013 Job knew what it was like to stand by the grave of not one but 10 of the most precious people in his life: his children: 7 sons and 3 daughters.I would say that just about everyone has had to go to the funeral home and knows what it\u2019s like to stand at the graveside of someone you love. Many times the devil will say, \u201cWhere is your God? If He really loved you and cared about you he wouldn\u2019t have allowed this to happen.\u201d But we know a God who can bring hope to what seems to be a hopeless situation. He is \u201cthe Resurrection and the Life.\u201d I\u2019m greatful that for a child of God, death is not the end. It is only good-bye for a little while. We know that because \u201cHe lives\u201d we will too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deceit Turned Job\u2019s Friends \u2013 Can you imagine losing everything you had then on top of that your so called friends come by. Instead of bringing comfort and praying for you, they criticize, or even worse, blame you and your lack of faith as the reason for your problems? Job\u2019s friends basically said, \u201cJob you must not be right with God.\u201d Job\u2019s own wife even said why don\u2019t you just go ahead and curse God and die and get it over with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of you may have been let down by friends and family. You know what it\u2019s like to have a loved one or a friend fail you when you need them the most. But we also have friends who stick closer than a brother. And aren\u2019t you glad we have Jesus who calls us friend. He will never turn against you, He will always be there, He will never let you down or leave you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n APPLICATION:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is one thing that didn\u2019t happen to Job: The devil didn\u2019t destroy his faith. The devil said to God \u201cYou just watch what he does. I\u2019ll take everything he\u2019s got, and he\u2019ll curse you.\u201d Job received one bad news report after another and instead of turning from God Job says, \u201cNaked I came from my mother\u2019s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gives and the Lord takes. Blessed be the name of the Lord.\u201d Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. (Job 1:20-22) Can we say the same?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Job tore his robe in grief and shaved his head as expressions of grief. He fell to the ground and then he didn\u2019t do what you\u2019d expect. Maybe you think that he\u2019d fall to the ground and curse God in anger; or fall to the ground and shout \u201cWhy me Lord?\u201d or blame, complain, or accuse God of abandonment. But no, he fell down to worship and praise God. He did right when everything went wrong. When God was all that he had, God was enough. Is God enough for us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes our emotional or physical pain continues for weeks, months, or even years. Suffering can be intense. If you\u2019re going through a tough time, take heart. The Lord is sovereign and controls all adversity in our lives. It\u2019s imperative that when we go through a long time of suffering that we remember how much God loves us. If He allows us to go through this pain and loss, then there is something good He wants us to accomplish. He\u2019s preparing us in a way that a life without suffering could never do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n