HOW LONG LORD?
Psalm 13:1-6
INTRODUCTION: After David killed Goliath he became a national hero: 1 Samuel 18:6-9. As a
result King Saul became jealous of David’s popularity and over time tried to kill David three
times. For nine long years, King Saul hunted David to kill him: 1 Samuel 26:20. Prolonged
affliction often wears us out. The Word of God gives us a wonderful promise for our times of
prolonged affliction: Romans 8:28. The psalms are filled with statements of hopelessness:
Psalm 22:1.
I. DAVID’S PERSONAL DESPAIR!
Let me ask you: “Have you like David ever asked the Lord in your times of trial: “How long,
Lord?” Four times in just two verses David asked the Lord the same question! Psalm 13:1-2.
David had suffered for so long it seemed to him that God had forgotten him. We sadly feel as
thou our God has turned His back to us: Numbers 6:22-27. David feels God has forgotten him
but that is never true for the child of God. God knows the troubles we face: Matthew 10:29-30.
Our God often uses the troubles of our lives to develop godly character in our lives:
Hebrews 12:7-11. Our God uses the troubles He allows in our lives to strengthen our faith:
Isaiah 40:31.
II. DAVID’S HONEST CRY!
Eventually David, and hopefully we also will come to understand that often our attitude
toward God and our perspective of our circumstances are not right. Psalm 13:3-4. The term
“Give light to my eyes” means to have physical strength and clarity of thinking! 1 Samuel 14:27;
Psalm 129:2. Our hope in our times of testing is that God will renew us physically, emotionally
and spiritually. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
III. DAVID’S COMPLETE TRUST IN HIS GOD IS RESTORED!
Psalm 13:5-6. David’s doubts and fears turned to trust as he remembers that his
circumstances cannot change the promises of his God to him. God’s unfailing love here is
described by the word “chesed”. That word is used 248 times as “love.” 149 times as “mercy.”
30 times as “lovingkindness in the Old Testament. “Chesed” is the love of God for His people
based on His covenant. David turns to praise for God even during his trials: Psalm 13:6.
Although God has not yet delivered him, David begins again to praise His God in the midst of his
trials. Real faith sees beyond the present circumstances and sees God still in control. Real faith
trusts God’s love in the midst of our trials. God will never leave His children or forsake His
children: Hebrews s13:5-6. David chose to praise his God in the midst of his trials and that is a
valuable lesson for each of us to learn: Philippians 4:4-7. Those who trust God will never be
abandoned by God. Even when our lives look like we will never see the light again, God is
working all things together for our good as we chose to love Him and obey His commandments.