Psalm Chapter 13

 

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

  • Psalm 13:1  How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

I heard a message a few years ago which was titled, "When Heaven is Silent." It was a message that we need to hear but usually do not want to hear.

There are times when it seems like God is not listening or else He is not answering. The speaker had gone through times such as these as we all may have at one time or another. He told of one time when his granddaughter was in a car accident and lay in intensive care for days with no improvement. He went in to pray for her many times and felt no answer coming from the Lord. Finally he was desperate and asked the Lord to please let him know if his granddaughter was going to be alright. He started to leave when the girl opened her eyes and spoke the words, "Papaw." He knew then that she was going to recover.

Although heaven seemed to be silent for a time, God did answer his prayer. There are times, however, when the answer isn't one like the above with a happy ending. I remember a time when my sister's baby died of sudden death syndrome. This was very hard for her since the baby was not sick as far as she knew and suddenly he was gone. She had the baby in her arms in an upstairs room and thought momentarily of throwing herself out the window. She looked around and saw her other children and knew that she could not leave them. God saw her through that awful time.

This was many years ago. She had two more children after that but all of them are grown now. My sister is still faithful to God. In fact she is more faithful now than ever before. What a joy it is to see that she went through bad times yet, she did not blame God but loves Him even more than before. 

There are many stories I could tell but I do know for certain that no one who is a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ ever regrets the day that Jesus came into their lives. One day my sister will know why her baby was taken away. Until then, she is to trust in the sovereign God who loves her more than anyone else in the whole world.

Sadly though, sometimes many let bad times drive them away from a loving God. They blame God or get bitter because life has dealt them a bitter blow. They do not allow God to comfort them and give them understanding. They shut their hearts to him in these times of sorrow. These unfortunately will miss out of the joy of eternal life and having the fellowship of God forever.  There is good times awaiting the faithful in Jesus Christ.

  • Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

This is repeated by Paul in the age of the church.

  • 1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Paul was repeating the words of Isaiah. Again a reminder that God is still God from generation to generation and His promises will come to pass.

  • Psalm 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

David too felt that heaven was silent many times. Sometimes it was because he had sinned and displeased God but many times it wasn't because of anything he had done. In fact he was innocent at the time when he fled from King Saul. At one time his enemy was his own son, Absalom. On many occasions David felt that his enemies were winning. This may happen to us through this life. We may be entirely in the right but it will seem as if the enemy prevails.

I've seen two cases of good Christian women getting their kids taken away in a custody suit because the man had more money and could better provide for them. It ripped their hearts out to lose custody of their kids and I can't understand it but I do know that these precious women will be rewarded greatly if they continue on to serve the Lord in love. They may regain custody at some point later in life and then maybe not but I do know that God will give them something greater and that is an extra covering of His presence to comfort and guide them until the day they see Him.

How do I know this? First of all, I can feel it in my spirit but laying aside feelings, it is in the word of God, both Old and New Testaments. Those that stay faithful to the Lord will be the winners in the end. I'm as sure of that as I am that the sun will rise in the morning.

  • Psalm 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

He seemed to have felt so desperate that he was afraid death was close at hand.

  • Psalm 13:4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

He did not want his enemies to gloat over his defeat.

If one is true and faithful to the Lord, if one has accepted God's plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and if one has turned from sin, their enemies will one day see their folly and regret how they wronged a child of God.

  • Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

David may have had a glimpse of the future gift of salvation and eternal life but here he is trusting God for physical salvation from his enemies and I believe spiritual salvation for eternity. He knew his salvation depended upon the mercy of God for he was helpless to survive without the Lord's mercy and deliverance.

One who is lost and without God is still in his or her sins. They need a savior. They are helpless to save themselves. Their good deeds and works are not good enough to save their souls. They can only be saved by looking to Jesus to save them from their sins. They have to depend upon the mercy of God to save and forgive their sins. They ask, God gives. They repent, God forgives. They cannot save themselves no matter how good they think they may be. 

  • John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Believe means more than just believing Christ once existed. Believing means to receive Him, to believe He died for your sins, and to believe in His words.

  • Psalm 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

After God delivers and saves, we can then sing and rejoice in His grace.

  • Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Rest in His mercy and grace this day. DC

 

Psalm 14

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