The Christian Online Magazine -
If you have been facing one trial after another and wondering in your heart - How long, Lord? Will there ever be an end to these troubles? - this message is for you.
Have you ever gone through troubles which never seemed to come to an end?
Did you wait patiently for some prospect of deliverance, and yet it seemed as if God would never return and visit you with His Mercy?
Did you ever feel like the Lord forgot about you?
Have you ever been racked with care, at your wit's end, or in a continual agitation?
What did you do?
Were you at a loss for words?
If you were like David, the Psalmist, you probably cried out to the Lord in great dejection and extreme earnestness of soul - "How long?"
In fact, in Psalm 13, in the first two verses, David asked the Lord four times the same question - "How long?" Each question designated a different phase of his troubles.
Psalm 13:1-6 - "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?
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
But 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."
Let's look at each of these four distinct aspects or phases of trouble that David was experiencing in the light of our present-day circumstances -
1) "How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD?"
Have you ever felt like God had forgotten you? That word forget means to ignore, cease to care, be oblivious of, or have a lack of memory or attention toward.
Have you ever felt as though God was ignoring you?
Do your circumstances seem to indicate that even He has ceased to care for you and your family?
David felt this way and cried out - "How long?"
2) "How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?"
In the Scriptures, when one was to show favor or friendship toward another, it was designated by that person turning his face benignantly toward another.
David desired God's favor in his life at all times.
That is why, in Psalm 4:6, he prayed - "...LORD, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us."
On the other hand, to have God turn away His countenance was to meet with His aversion, hatred, and displeasure. The _expression "to hide one's face" meant to hide it by covering or concealing it.
David felt as though God was displeased with him. He did not sense His approbation on his life as at other times. Resultantly, he questioned - "How long?"
3) "How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?"
Since rescue was nowhere in sight, David began to continually frame ways and means for his own deliverance. He began to rely upon himself. Because he so desperately desired to escape from trouble, and rid himself of the daily grief and anguish that he was feeling, he attempted to devise some plan for his own deliverance, but all to no avail since the Lord was not in it.
Have you ever done that? Since no deliverance seemed to be in sight, did you take matters into your own hands?
What happened?
Most likely, you met with total defeat and failure for God was not in it. All the more earnestly did David cry out - "How long?"
4) "How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?"
When the enemy is exalted, he is set on high. He is said to magnify himself above you. Through his oppression and persecution, He seems to triumph or have you completely in his power.
Have you ever felt this way? Have you felt as though Satan was in control and winning the Battle for Your Life?
In the midst of all of his troubles, David felt as though the enemy of his soul was in complete control and overcoming him. Therefore, he cried out to the Lord - "How long?"
He knew that he could not win the battle without Jesus on his side.
Psalm 13:4 - He was concerned that his enemies would act proudly and boast in saying, "...I have prevailed against him..."
He knew that his adversary or oppressor wanted nothing more than to overcome, conquer, and triumph over him as having obtained a complete victory.
Psalm 13:4 - He knew that his enemy was anxious to see him overthrown from his steadfastness or firmness in Faith as expressed by the words - "rejoice when I am moved."
What did he do?
Even though he felt as though -
...God had forgotten him and was displeased with him
...no efforts on his own brought deliverance
...and the enemy seemed to be triumphing -
he continuously cried out to the Lord for help.
He knew that feelings are oftentimes deceiving. Things many times are not as they seem to be.
Psalm 13:3 - He cried out of the depths of his soul - "Consider and hear me, O LORD my God..."
Answer me. Look upon me. Attend to my cry. Regard my needs.
Psalm 13:5 - He placed his total trust and confidence in God's Mercy - "But I have trusted in Thy mercy..." Mercy, in this verse, covers God's Faithfulness, Kindness, and Good Deeds.
God is a Good God all the time. David knew that if he would only trust in His Mercy, then he would, in turn, "rejoice" in His salvation.
God's deliverance, aid, victory, health, and prosperity would come.
The Lord would deliver His servant from his present troubles and give him cause to "rejoice" in His salvation.
Out of a very bleak situation, He would restore joy and triumph -
Psalm 13:6 - "I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me."
What began with depression and sadness would end in singing, gladness,and goodness.
What was the key that brought victory to David?
He called upon the name of the LORD and trusted in His mercy.
Like David, trust in God's Mercy today.
Remember - Great is His Faithfulness.
He is so good. His Lovingkindness is better than Life.
It is a Scriptural principle that those who place their trust in the Lord will never be ashamed.
You, too, will be able to "rejoice" in His Salvation.
You will once again sing unto the LORD because He has "dealt bountifully" with you.
Copyright by Connie Giordano
