In our study of Psalm 13, we will look at standing in faith even when God seems to be far away.
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For the leader. A psalm of David: How long, Adonai? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
Once again, we see that this song was written for what we would call today the worship leader and it was written by King David. We see that David is feeling alone as if God has forgotten him and the struggles that he is facing. All of us probably go through similar periods in our walk of faith when it seems like God is far away and maybe doesn't even care about what we are going through.
How long must I keep asking myself what to do, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long must my enemy dominate me?
The Hebrew words that begin the verse actually are better translated as until when and that is important as we see that, even in his dark times, David realizes that God will act on his behalf. We see that David has been going over and over his current situation in his head and he is confused as to why God is not stepping in against his enemies.
Look, and answer me, Adonai my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
This verse speaks of the fact that David feels like he is at his breaking point and, without God's intervention, he will die. Even at this point, David clings to his faith and the fact that God is in control of his life. If we are in Christ, then, we also have the assurance that God is in control.
Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”; and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
David goes on by explaining why he is confused and it comes down to the fact that, if his enemies were to overcome him, Goid would not be glorified. David realized that everything is meant to glorify God but he does not see how his current situation does that without God stepping in on his behalf. You see, David did not know that many years later this song as well as the rest of his story would be included in the Bible and used by God to strengthen the faith of so many people. Likewise, if we are going through struggles and even feeling that God is distant, we don't know how God is going to use our struggles to build someone else up in the faith.
But I trust in your grace, my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
Nevertheless, David stands on his faith and knows that God will bring him into the kingdom in the end. Although David does not currently see blessings flowing into his life, he stands firm in the fact that, in the end, God always brings blessings to his people.
I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me even more than I need.
With all of this in mind, David says that he will sing and praise God. We see that David knows the goodness of God and the fact that God provides for all of his needs even when he is going through the struggles. Because of that fact, he can still praise and worship God. We each have to ask ourselves the question of can we stand on our faith and worship God even when we are feeling that he is distant? That is why it is important to grow in faith and remember what God has done in the past.
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