Post by arete on Jan 27, 2015 1:16:25 GMT
Introduction:
The raw emotion of the psalms can be discomforting. We often act as if our prayers before God should always be prim and proper and perfectly delivered. There is nothing wrong with well thought out and clearly presented prayers. But there are times in life that bring us to our knees from emotional onslaught and from that position we find the only place to look is up – which is a blessing. David models for us that it is okay to unleash our mental and emotional anguish into our prayers. Not only can God take it, he is the only one who can truly help. So then, join me this morning as David allows us access to a prayer such as this…
Context:
Psalm 13 has been called the “Howling Psalm.” The name comes from the repetition of “How long.” At first glance, the Psalm might look like an accusation. Perhaps it is. Yet, the psalmist goes before his God honestly and confesses the condition of his heart and his great need to the only One who can help him. “The psalm, which is a deeply moving picture of despair and trust, realistically depicts the anguish of the soul yet is characteristic of a life of deep faith” (EXP.) We do not know for certain the details leading up to the writing of this Psalm, but the depth of emotion and cry for God to intervene is plain. This is a lament psalm which includes the lament (the expression of grief over one’s situation), the statement of trust in God (seen in a brief and intense prayer here), and the affirmation of praise to God. Psalm 13 has been a favorite of mine for several years. Whenever I feel like crying out “How long” I turn here to be reminded that my howls are turned into praise by God’s mighty hand…
Body – Psalm 13:1-6 – ESV
How Long, O Lord?
To the Choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
How Long? (vv. 1-2) The Lament
Four times, David cries out “How long?” It’s hard to know whether a question mark or exclamation mark goes better with this cry. The choice of wording indicates that this is not a passing issue or concern. David has been struggling with this issue long enough – from his perspective at least. This leads to David asking some questions…
Has the Lord forgotten me (v. 1a)? This isn’t meant to cast doubt on God’s all-knowing nature. David’s language can be very literal. The idea being that for God to remember David is the same as God acting on David’s behalf. David is fearfully asking why God hasn’t acted yet.
Has the Lord turned away from me (v. 1b)? The idea of God turning his face away is God removing his favor, his blessings. David wonders what he might have done to warrant such a punishment as well as how long that punishment will last. Will God look on him with favor again?
Is worry and sorrow all I have left (v. 2a-b)? The lines in verse two are expressions or figures of speech similar to: second guessing, playing what if, fixating, or dwelling upon the situation. David’s mind is replaying the issues over and over hoping to find some way to make things right and to make God notice him and pour grace and mercy on him.
Will I lose this war (v. 2c)? We don’t know who or what the enemy is. But David feels as if that enemy has won and is stepping on his neck. David wonders if God will restore him and bring him victory in his life as a king and as one of God’s people.
Illustration:
Spiritual conviction is not total in this life, but always leaves in the heart some dregs of doubting, though the soul be safe. As a ship that rides at anchor is tossed and troubled, but the anchor holds it, so it is with the soul that is somewhat convinced of its good state, it is sure of the main, yet is tossed with many doubts and fears, but the anchor is in heaven. Richard Sibbes
Application:
Doubts and worries are not sinful when they are brought before God. I am thankful that David’s enemy is not disclosed. Many times, I have found myself referring to this Psalm as a model for praying through my worries and doubts and hard times. We cannot fear to bring our fears and doubts before God. I think the fear may be that if we bring these things before God, we will be let down. This is a silly fear. Your doubts and worries cannot assault the reality of God. Instead, God will lay assault to and overcome every fear and doubt to his own glory through his grace and for our good.
Hear Me! (vv. 3-4) The Statement of Trust
David brings three requests in this statement of trust, “Consider me, answer me, and enlighten me”. These are imperatives. That means they are commands. But the way they are written, David is not ordering God around. Instead, God has dealt so graciously with David in the past, David believes God will be gracious still.
God, consider me (v. 3a). This is the cure to David’s fear that God has forgotten or turned his face away. He pleads with God to truly see him and to act on what God sees. David isn’t pretending that God will see that David deserves God’s grace, but that God will be moved in love to show mercy and grace.
God, answer me (v. 3a). David begs for God to answer his fears and doubts. Only God can answer these things. Only God can deliver David from his enemies. David rightfully turns to the only One who can help him.
God, enlighten me (v. 3b). The wording here pleads with God to be David’s light. The light of God will reveal all things for how and what they really are. David asks to see his troubles in light of who God is, what God has done, and what God will do. David knows that God is his reality.
If you don’t, then…(v. 3b-4) the “lest” phrases show that David understands that his life and his faith are in God’s hands.
1. I will die – whatever David’s problem, it is deadly serious. Apart from God, David expects to die
2. My enemies will prevail – there is a sense here that the greater atrocity is not that the enemies prevail over David, but over David’s God. That such prevailing is over God’s king.
3. My foes will rejoice – David does not want his foes to take perverse pleasure from this situation. The idea of being shaken is to be removed from the Rock of God. David truly desires to remain firm upon God’s person and God’s revelation.
Illustration:
The cause why our oppressors prevail oft against us is, because we trust too much in our own wits, and lean too much upon our own inventions opposing subtlety to subtlety, one evil device to another, matching and maintaining policy by policy, and not committing our cause to God. —Abraham Wright
Application:
Bringing our fears and concerns before God requires baring of the soul. David doesn’t mince around, tip-toeing and hedging every word. David commits his cause to God to judge. That is scary, because God may judge that we are in the wrong. Or he may determine that now is a time to refine us through suffering. But how can we know his answer without committing ourselves and our circumstances to him? Do we fear being wrong more than we love being right with God? Like David we must bare our souls to God so that he may defend us or accuse us. Where he defends, we cannot lose. Where he accuses and we repent, we still cannot lose.
Help Me! (vv. 5-6) The Affirmation of Praise
David begins this section with a blessed contrast. The immensity of his situation is placed in proper perspective when compared to the immensity of God.
David trusts God because God is steadfast in his love (v. 5a). This is God’s covenant, his promised love that is eternal in duration and eternal in scope. God’s love for David is the ultimate reality. No matter how David feels – the reality is that God has not forgotten him. God can’t forget his own.
David trusts in God’s salvation (v. 5b). He talks of salvation as a future event. Modern Christians often treat salvation like it’s a onetime event, often in our past. God has saved us from the penalty of sin if we are indeed saved. He is active in our lives now, saving us from the power of sin, & he will save us from the presence of sin forever. David trusts the future reality over the present circumstance.
David believes his howling will turn to singing (v. 6a). He began howling. He knows that He will sing to the Lord again. Because David knows God, and more importantly is known by God, then he knows that God will deliver him temporarily on earth, or forever in heaven.
David knows God will not let him down (v. 6b). Instead God will deal bountifully. However this requires knowing God and God’s promises. We are only let down when we hope in something other than God’s person and what God has actually said. David knows what God has said and what God has promised. His faith is well placed and will be vindicated by God himself.
Illustration:
I never knew what it was for God to stand by me at all turns, and at every offer of Satan to afflict me, etc., as I have found him since I came [to salvation]; for look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender to me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake. John Bunyan
Application:
When we trust God to be who he is based on what he has said, we will never be disappointed. God’s person was David’s cure for the misery his circumstances created. God himself is the cure for the miseries and sufferings in our lives too. Our circumstances change. Some are good. Some are incredibly painful. God does not change and is as good, as gracious, and as merciful at this moment as at every other. The difference is that we perceive our need for his grace and mercy more accurately when we hurt. The truth is that our best day is as mired in sin and death as our worst. We need him and his grace every moment. When we suffer we see that clearly and feel the relief of his grace truly.
So What?
This is an intensely personal prayer and an uncomfortable experience to listen in on. David does not try to gloss over his life, his pain, his need. He doesn’t even lie to himself that he can figure his own way out. Instead, when driven to his knees he turns immediately to his God.
Bring your doubts and fears and sufferings quickly before God. Not because he doesn’t know. We have to come to terms with how helpless we are. Then our hearts are better prepared to lean fully upon God and his grace,
Bare your soul quickly before God. Not because he doesn’t know. But because coming before him truthfully and humbly paves the way for our response to his defense and his discipline. If there is any wicked way in us, we need to repent.
Trust in God in such a way as to lead to praise in the midst of pain. Pray as plainly as David and trust that the Holy Spirit will bring joy in pain and help you lay hold of the truth that God has not forgotten; that God will answer; that God will save you and deal bountifully with you because he is your father and loves to give his children good things.
In closing, develop a prayer life like David, that might not be grammatically correct, that might very well be overwhelming in emotion, but regardless is always the true expression of your heart before your God in heaven.
Benediction (2 Corinthians 1:2-5 NRSV)
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ."
The raw emotion of the psalms can be discomforting. We often act as if our prayers before God should always be prim and proper and perfectly delivered. There is nothing wrong with well thought out and clearly presented prayers. But there are times in life that bring us to our knees from emotional onslaught and from that position we find the only place to look is up – which is a blessing. David models for us that it is okay to unleash our mental and emotional anguish into our prayers. Not only can God take it, he is the only one who can truly help. So then, join me this morning as David allows us access to a prayer such as this…
Context:
Psalm 13 has been called the “Howling Psalm.” The name comes from the repetition of “How long.” At first glance, the Psalm might look like an accusation. Perhaps it is. Yet, the psalmist goes before his God honestly and confesses the condition of his heart and his great need to the only One who can help him. “The psalm, which is a deeply moving picture of despair and trust, realistically depicts the anguish of the soul yet is characteristic of a life of deep faith” (EXP.) We do not know for certain the details leading up to the writing of this Psalm, but the depth of emotion and cry for God to intervene is plain. This is a lament psalm which includes the lament (the expression of grief over one’s situation), the statement of trust in God (seen in a brief and intense prayer here), and the affirmation of praise to God. Psalm 13 has been a favorite of mine for several years. Whenever I feel like crying out “How long” I turn here to be reminded that my howls are turned into praise by God’s mighty hand…
Body – Psalm 13:1-6 – ESV
How Long, O Lord?
To the Choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
How Long? (vv. 1-2) The Lament
Four times, David cries out “How long?” It’s hard to know whether a question mark or exclamation mark goes better with this cry. The choice of wording indicates that this is not a passing issue or concern. David has been struggling with this issue long enough – from his perspective at least. This leads to David asking some questions…
Has the Lord forgotten me (v. 1a)? This isn’t meant to cast doubt on God’s all-knowing nature. David’s language can be very literal. The idea being that for God to remember David is the same as God acting on David’s behalf. David is fearfully asking why God hasn’t acted yet.
Has the Lord turned away from me (v. 1b)? The idea of God turning his face away is God removing his favor, his blessings. David wonders what he might have done to warrant such a punishment as well as how long that punishment will last. Will God look on him with favor again?
Is worry and sorrow all I have left (v. 2a-b)? The lines in verse two are expressions or figures of speech similar to: second guessing, playing what if, fixating, or dwelling upon the situation. David’s mind is replaying the issues over and over hoping to find some way to make things right and to make God notice him and pour grace and mercy on him.
Will I lose this war (v. 2c)? We don’t know who or what the enemy is. But David feels as if that enemy has won and is stepping on his neck. David wonders if God will restore him and bring him victory in his life as a king and as one of God’s people.
Illustration:
Spiritual conviction is not total in this life, but always leaves in the heart some dregs of doubting, though the soul be safe. As a ship that rides at anchor is tossed and troubled, but the anchor holds it, so it is with the soul that is somewhat convinced of its good state, it is sure of the main, yet is tossed with many doubts and fears, but the anchor is in heaven. Richard Sibbes
Application:
Doubts and worries are not sinful when they are brought before God. I am thankful that David’s enemy is not disclosed. Many times, I have found myself referring to this Psalm as a model for praying through my worries and doubts and hard times. We cannot fear to bring our fears and doubts before God. I think the fear may be that if we bring these things before God, we will be let down. This is a silly fear. Your doubts and worries cannot assault the reality of God. Instead, God will lay assault to and overcome every fear and doubt to his own glory through his grace and for our good.
Hear Me! (vv. 3-4) The Statement of Trust
David brings three requests in this statement of trust, “Consider me, answer me, and enlighten me”. These are imperatives. That means they are commands. But the way they are written, David is not ordering God around. Instead, God has dealt so graciously with David in the past, David believes God will be gracious still.
God, consider me (v. 3a). This is the cure to David’s fear that God has forgotten or turned his face away. He pleads with God to truly see him and to act on what God sees. David isn’t pretending that God will see that David deserves God’s grace, but that God will be moved in love to show mercy and grace.
God, answer me (v. 3a). David begs for God to answer his fears and doubts. Only God can answer these things. Only God can deliver David from his enemies. David rightfully turns to the only One who can help him.
God, enlighten me (v. 3b). The wording here pleads with God to be David’s light. The light of God will reveal all things for how and what they really are. David asks to see his troubles in light of who God is, what God has done, and what God will do. David knows that God is his reality.
If you don’t, then…(v. 3b-4) the “lest” phrases show that David understands that his life and his faith are in God’s hands.
1. I will die – whatever David’s problem, it is deadly serious. Apart from God, David expects to die
2. My enemies will prevail – there is a sense here that the greater atrocity is not that the enemies prevail over David, but over David’s God. That such prevailing is over God’s king.
3. My foes will rejoice – David does not want his foes to take perverse pleasure from this situation. The idea of being shaken is to be removed from the Rock of God. David truly desires to remain firm upon God’s person and God’s revelation.
Illustration:
The cause why our oppressors prevail oft against us is, because we trust too much in our own wits, and lean too much upon our own inventions opposing subtlety to subtlety, one evil device to another, matching and maintaining policy by policy, and not committing our cause to God. —Abraham Wright
Application:
Bringing our fears and concerns before God requires baring of the soul. David doesn’t mince around, tip-toeing and hedging every word. David commits his cause to God to judge. That is scary, because God may judge that we are in the wrong. Or he may determine that now is a time to refine us through suffering. But how can we know his answer without committing ourselves and our circumstances to him? Do we fear being wrong more than we love being right with God? Like David we must bare our souls to God so that he may defend us or accuse us. Where he defends, we cannot lose. Where he accuses and we repent, we still cannot lose.
Help Me! (vv. 5-6) The Affirmation of Praise
David begins this section with a blessed contrast. The immensity of his situation is placed in proper perspective when compared to the immensity of God.
David trusts God because God is steadfast in his love (v. 5a). This is God’s covenant, his promised love that is eternal in duration and eternal in scope. God’s love for David is the ultimate reality. No matter how David feels – the reality is that God has not forgotten him. God can’t forget his own.
David trusts in God’s salvation (v. 5b). He talks of salvation as a future event. Modern Christians often treat salvation like it’s a onetime event, often in our past. God has saved us from the penalty of sin if we are indeed saved. He is active in our lives now, saving us from the power of sin, & he will save us from the presence of sin forever. David trusts the future reality over the present circumstance.
David believes his howling will turn to singing (v. 6a). He began howling. He knows that He will sing to the Lord again. Because David knows God, and more importantly is known by God, then he knows that God will deliver him temporarily on earth, or forever in heaven.
David knows God will not let him down (v. 6b). Instead God will deal bountifully. However this requires knowing God and God’s promises. We are only let down when we hope in something other than God’s person and what God has actually said. David knows what God has said and what God has promised. His faith is well placed and will be vindicated by God himself.
Illustration:
I never knew what it was for God to stand by me at all turns, and at every offer of Satan to afflict me, etc., as I have found him since I came [to salvation]; for look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender to me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake. John Bunyan
Application:
When we trust God to be who he is based on what he has said, we will never be disappointed. God’s person was David’s cure for the misery his circumstances created. God himself is the cure for the miseries and sufferings in our lives too. Our circumstances change. Some are good. Some are incredibly painful. God does not change and is as good, as gracious, and as merciful at this moment as at every other. The difference is that we perceive our need for his grace and mercy more accurately when we hurt. The truth is that our best day is as mired in sin and death as our worst. We need him and his grace every moment. When we suffer we see that clearly and feel the relief of his grace truly.
So What?
This is an intensely personal prayer and an uncomfortable experience to listen in on. David does not try to gloss over his life, his pain, his need. He doesn’t even lie to himself that he can figure his own way out. Instead, when driven to his knees he turns immediately to his God.
Bring your doubts and fears and sufferings quickly before God. Not because he doesn’t know. We have to come to terms with how helpless we are. Then our hearts are better prepared to lean fully upon God and his grace,
Bare your soul quickly before God. Not because he doesn’t know. But because coming before him truthfully and humbly paves the way for our response to his defense and his discipline. If there is any wicked way in us, we need to repent.
Trust in God in such a way as to lead to praise in the midst of pain. Pray as plainly as David and trust that the Holy Spirit will bring joy in pain and help you lay hold of the truth that God has not forgotten; that God will answer; that God will save you and deal bountifully with you because he is your father and loves to give his children good things.
In closing, develop a prayer life like David, that might not be grammatically correct, that might very well be overwhelming in emotion, but regardless is always the true expression of your heart before your God in heaven.
Benediction (2 Corinthians 1:2-5 NRSV)
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ."