How Long?

Psalm 13:1 CSB

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

INTRO—

SOOO…I think one of the more challenging, recurring questions we face in life goes like this…

Are we there yet? When do we get to go…? How much longer…?

This question—HOW LONG—David faces in the context of enemy antagonism/pressure [Saul? Absalom?] and God moves (inspires) David to write Psalm 13 (turn there) as we listen, once again, to a song from Michael Card based on this significant lament:

[[Song: “How Long?” - Michael Card]]

Let’s look further at Psalm 13, and first see David’s…

Persisting Concern [Psalm 13.1-2]

“HOW LONG?…!?!!??!?” [Used 4x in these two verses; most occurrences among all the Psalms (Six other psalms vocalize this question); again this context may well be hiding from Saul or Absalom who wanted to kill, replace him; significant repetition may indicate significant duration of the situation]

Four Contexts for David’s Nagging Question:

“Will you forget me forever?” [Not act on your child’s behalf; Forget…not acknowledge]

“…Will you hide your face from me?” [Ignore…refuse fellowship; (reject?)]

“…Will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day?” [Restless turmoil…snowballing pain]

“…Will my enemy dominate me?” [be exalted over…prevail against; triumph]

Next, let’s look further at Psalm 13 and see David’s…

Persistent Prayer [Psalm 13.3-4]

[[“In the face of persisting concern, David engages in persistent prayer.”]]

“CONSIDER ME AND ANSWER” [To note and be moved to answer; these verbs are imperatives; urgent!]

Result Desired — Restore…(brightness to my eyes [dimmed by exhaustion (sickness?), fear, uncertainty; physical impact of emotional turmoil])

“OTHERWISE” [If not, then…]

Result Feared — I will die and my enemy triumph and rejoice… (Literally die; death of influence from being shaken and left alone)

Finally, let’s look further at Psalm 13 and see David’s…

Prevailing Trust [Psalm 13.5-6]

[[There has been somewhat of a de-escalting progression to this scene—from ‘frantic’ questions…to an unsettled plea…to settled (though still uneasy) trust.]]

“BUT I HAVE TRUSTED” [believed; have had confidence]

Recalled reason — Your unfailing love [chesed חֶ֫סֶד]

THE bottom line once again = God’s consistency & constancy

Heart that is gently & lowly; merciful; gracious…

“MY HEART WILL REJOICE” [definitively expressed!]

Promised plan — Rejoice and sing [[Lift Every Voice & Sing]]

Response to our LORD’s generous deliverance!

Having looked into Psalm 13, through David’s life we find…

CONCL—

Comfort in Common Concerns (13.1-2)

Challenge to Cry Out Honestly to God (13.3-4)

Courage to Trust Our Lord through it All (13.5-6)

INVITATION:

Salvation

Honesty

Trust

Psalm 13:6 CSB

I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.