The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 13 (4--29--20)

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 and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD because he has dealt bountifully with me.

HOW LONG?

---v. 1---Could you just acknowledge I exist LORD? That's how David feels---the sheer breadth of emotion in the Psalter! That's life sometimes! Even as followers of Jesus Christ--we are broken, imperfect, weary, not-well-cared for souls at times, that are worn down by business---perhaps marriage woes---pressure at work---chronic pain---relatives we have to tend to---and we cry, "See me Lord"---I remind You, He's more aware---than we are aware (Matthew 28: 20).

---v. 2---Counsel in my inner-being says, "This is the worst my life has ever been!" Don't forget John Brown of Haddington, "Get outside yourself---abide in HIM." Go back to John 15: 1--11 (it's going back to Him). Andrew Fuller, great Baptist preacher (friend of William Carey), whom Spurgeon called the greatest theologian of his age said: "the dejected soul must look outside itself for consolation."

---v. 3---Consider me God---light up my eyes---so I don't die---NOTICE: this is a turning point---David was already praying---talking very honestly with his God---now he offers specific requests...

---v. 4---Can you "hear" that rascal enemy of mine LORD, "I have prevailed against him." David is asking God not to allow David's foes--- to rejoice over him...Remember we "do" have an adversary. From Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "The devil is the adversary of our souls. He can use our temperaments and our physical condition. He so deals with us that we allow our temperaments to control and govern us, instead of keeping temperament where it should be kept. There is no end to the ways the devil produces spiritual depression. We must always bear him in mind."

---v. 5---Covenant Love---grabs David---"God, You are the God of MY salvation!" My heart "shall" rejoice---even before everything is settled---David has "faith" to believe that the LORD---will settle everything. From Matthew Henry: "None live so easily, so pleasantly, as those that live by faith."

---v. 6---Colossal Bounty: It's time to Sing! God has been so good to me...As Spurgeon indicates--- this all sprang through the door of affliction and trial. David teaches us to pray, and to keep praying: "See me"---"hear me"---"light up my eyes"...Don't forget when this "shelter in place" is over---The LORD is worth the trip to Church on the Sabbath to bless and praise His Holy Name...even more than once.

Don't forget: The Lord Jesus Christ actually had the Father turn His face from him for a time. The God-Man was left in darkness. It seemed the enemy prevailed over him. That's what it was like for the Lord Jesus crying on the cross in verses 1--4. All that happened so we might know the incredible reality of verses five and six (Tim Keller, The Songs of Jesus).

I've found a Friend; O such a Friend!

So kind and true and tender;

So wise a Counselor and Guide,

So mighty a Defender!

From Him who loves me now so well,

What power my soul shall sever?

Shall life or death, shall death or hell?

No; I am His forever.

James Grindly Small (1817--1888)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Our LORD, Pastor Jason