The Righteous One’s "LORD, How Long?" a brief study of Psalm 13, adapted from PCC Prayer Meeting Exhortation on 18 Aug 2006 Psalm 13 may be known as the Righteous One’s "O Lord, How Long?" Notice the repetition of the question, "how long?" • 1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? • 1b How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? • 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? • 2b How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? This psalm must have been written by David at a time when great darkness was over his soul. It was darkness which could be felt. The hours were long. The nights were wearisome. The burden upon his soul was heavy. Was David in the wilderness of Judea running away from Saul, while waiting on the promises of God that he would be king one day? Or was he already king, but going through a season of spiritual depression as he faced the tremendous pressure of discontent and murmuring amongst the people stirred up by his son Absalom? We don’t know… But one thing we know: David was writing in the Spirit of Christ. During his earthly ministry, our Lord experienced such darkness upon his soul that David could not even have understood. It was the darkness of the Father’s abandonment on the Cross. Our Lord bore our sin on the Cross. Our guilt was upon Him so much so that His Father, as it were, turned His face from Him. For three hours, even the sun refused to shine. For three hours, all that our Lord saw of His beloved Father was His angry face.… so much so that at the end of the three hours, He cried out: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mt 27:46). All through His earthly life, not once do we read of our Lord calling His Father as ‘God’ but always as ‘Father’… so intimate was His relationship with His Father. But now on the Cross, forsaken by His Father because of the guilt He was bearing, He cried out in anguish "My God, my God." But this darkness upon His soul did not begin only on the Cross. For we are told that as the Lord anticipated going to the Cross, He was already deeply troubled. He told His disciples: "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Mt 26:38). He wrestled so much in prayer that night that His perspiration fell to the ground like great drops of blood. He cried unto His Father, "If it be possible, take this cup from me. Yet not my will but thy will be done."… … But the words of Psalm 13 must have been part of His meditation. 1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? 1b How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul [i.e. how long do I have to talk to myself], having sorrow in my heart daily? 2b How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Can you see how these words take on fresh meanings once we understand them as the words of our Lord? Our Lord was not a stoic. He knew and he felt the pains and anxiety that we feel when we have to wait upon God for deliverance. But our Lord was not faithless as many of us are. When He asked "how long?" He was not asking for an answer. There was no doubt in His heart at all that the Father would deliver Him. He was expressing His desire that the period of darkness be as short as necessary. So we read in the second part of the Psalm: 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Consider the plea and confidence of our Lord. He cries unto His Father to hear His plea. He has one plea in this psalm: "Lighten mine eyes!" (v. 3). This was His plea. "Lighten mine eyes," or "Give light to my eyes." Take away the darkness from my soul that I may again enjoy the brightness of Thy heavenly smile. The rest of the few verses contain His arguments why He desired to be heard: 3b lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4a Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and 4b [Lest] those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. Now, although these reasons may appear to be selfish and self-centred they are not. Although it is legitimate to defend one’s name (for a good name is better to be chosen than great riches) our Lord was not only concerned about His own name, but His Father’s name, for He adds: 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation [i.e. deliverance]. Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death and my enemies rejoice over my fall.… whereas I have trusted in thy mercy. It is like the Lord saying: Not just for my sake, Father, but for thine glory sake,… wouldst thou lift me out of my gloom, for I have trusted in thee. Grant that I may yet have occasion to rejoice in thy deliverance. Those of us who have had occasion of experiencing darkness upon our soul take note: It is not wrong to desire to see the sunshine behind the dark clouds. It is not wrong to ask for the dark clouds to be chased away. As our Lord cried for deliverance, let us learn likewise to cry for deliverance. Our Lord desired to see the light, and His prayers were answered. When the hours of darkness were over: The sun began to shine again. And when His confidence was restored, He cried out "It is finished" and unto His Father He said: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Lk 23:46) and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Three days later, our Lord rose from the dead, and eventually ascended up to heaven. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Our Lord sang these words even before He was raised from the dead. But such was His confidence in His Father that He could speak in the past tense: "he hath dealt bountifully with me." The Lord will always deal bountifully with all such as rest in Him. Conclusion & Application Are you, beloved brethren, experiencing some trials and suffering in your soul? Is it due to a physical illness? Or is it depression in your soul? Is it a sad circumstance in your life? Are you faced with a failure? A sick child? A quarrelsome mother-in-law? Fail not to cry out unto the Lord: "O Lord, How long?" David cried out "O Lord, How long?" and was heard. Our Lord Himself cried out: "O Lord, How long?" and was heard. Our fathers in the faith have cried out "O Lord, how long?" And they have been heard. I think of John Calvin. He was a man afflicted with many illnesses. Theodore Beza spoke of how he was afflicted by headaches, fevers, gout, ulcerated hemorrhoids, colic, etc. But while he was oppressed by so many diseases, no man ever heard him utter a word unbecoming of a man of firmness, far less unbecoming a Christian. But he was often seen raising his eyes towards heaven, and saying, "O Lord, how long?" Fret not beloved brethren when dark clouds overshadow your soul. Cry out unto the Lord, "O Lord, how long?" Yes, cry unto Him for deliverance, but remember to wait upon Him patiently, I do not know how long you have to wait. But I know that your deliverance draws nigh, and your light affliction, is but for a moment, and it is working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Amen. — JJ Lim |
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