The Book of Psalms
Psalm 13
Psalm XIII · Vol. II, pp. 993–994
1 David complaineth of God's delay to help him. 3 He prayeth for preventing grace. 5 He trusteth in the divine mercy.
To the chief musician,1 A psalm of David.
1 HOWa long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou bhide thy face from me?2
1 Or, overseer.
a Ps.44.23; 89.46; 6.3; 22.1,2; 9.18. De.31.17. Job 13.24. Is.8.17; 54.7-10.
b Ps.88.14.
2 This psalm is a record of the victory of faith over weakness of body and anguish of soul. 'Like Job, the psalmist is afflicted with sickness, which has prostrated his energies, and threatens to cut short his career of service in God's cause by an untimely death, and is at the same time assailed by persecutors, who, as birds of prey over the sinking traveller, exult over the progress of his malady, and long for his death, as a crowning triumph in their war of persecution against the godly.'—P.
2 Howc long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? dhow long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
4 Lestg mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
A.M. cir. 2946. B.C. cir. 1058.
g De.32.27. Ps.25.2. Eze.35.10-15.
6 Ii will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.3
i Ps.ciii. cxvi. cxviii.; 40.1-5.
3 'The psalm closes with expressions of joy, thankfulness, and triumph. Though it begins with depression and sadness, it ends with joy. This is often observable in the Psalms. In the commencement it often occurs that the mind is overwhelmed with sorrow, and there is earnest pleading with God. Light, under the influence of prayer, breaks in gradually upon the soul. The clouds disperse, the darkness disappears; new views of the goodness and mercy of God are imparted; an assurance of his favour is brought to the soul; confidence in his mercy springs up in the heart; and the psalm that began with sorrowful complaining, ends with the language of praise and joy' (Barnes).—P.
Notes
Ver. 2. The 'Man of sorrows,' who knew no joy but 'the joy set before him,' here speaks while he 'endures the cross,' and bears 'the contradiction of sinners.' C.
Reflections.—How painful to an exercised believer is the sense of God's absence and frowns! An hour is an age without his love! But the most precious saints are often exercised with long and constant sorrows: and their anxiety and vain contrivances to help themselves will but add to their burden, entangle them more and more, and bring them to the brink of despair. But though God hide, and frown, and smite, his love for all men cannot be broken. Let Satan and his agents triumph as they may in their fall, there is full hope of their recovery; nay, it is at hand. Trust in God's mercy and prayers poured into his bosom will quickly issue in great deliverance and joy.