How long?
Psalm 13:1-2(AMP) How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?
At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves asking: How long? When faced with adversity and awaiting a resolution, the wait can seem interminable. David expresses this very sentiment, yearning for clarity in his challenging circumstances.
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? While it may have felt to David as though God had forsaken him, the truth is God never did. Psalm 13:1a(MSG) Long enough, GOD – you’ve ignored me long enough.
How long will You hide Your face from me? David’s heartache stemmed from feeling that God had overlooked him and kept His distance. Psalm 13:1b(MSG) I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough.
Isaiah 49:14-16(NLT) Yet Jerusalem says, “The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.” “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
*How long shall I take counsel in my soul? David’s deep-rooted sadness was a result of seeking answers within himself. In moments of despair, we too should look not inwardly, but toward the Lord. Psalm 13:2a(MSG) Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain.
*How long will my enemy be exalted over me? The weight of adversaries mocking him further deepened David’s desolation. Psalm 13:2b(MSG) Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.
David’s despair was threefold: in his relationship with God, within his own soul, and in dealing with his adversaries.
Yet, after all his questioning, David’s conclusion is that no matter the duration of God’s response, his only true recourse is reliance upon the Lord. This realisation is beautifully expressed in his prayer:
Psalm 13:3-6(MSG) Take a good look at me, GOD, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms – I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.
From feeling forgotten at the outset of the Psalm, David’s journey culminates in recognising God’s unwavering presence and help in times of trouble.