FROM MOURNING TO REJOICING Meditations in the Psalms (Psalm 13)
Some call this the ‘Howling Psalm’; more appropriately it could be titled the ‘How Long Psalm’. If you have not yet an occasion to use this term ‘how long’ you will if you be one after God’s own heart. I title it ‘From Mourning to Rejoicing’ because it is divided as such, Protesting verses 1-2, Praying 3-4 and Praising 5-6. David is extremely depressed here, from his many years of running from Saul, and is at the point of giving up. Protesting his condition to the Lord he uses ‘how long’ no less than four times in the first two verses. He is not communing but complaining, impatience is obvious. “How long will You forget me?” We would readily find fault with David here did not our own spirit on occasions find unison with him. When the poor soul is downcast every hour seems an eternity, and a downcast soul is miserable company indeed. “It is some ease to a troubled spirit to give vent to its grief’s, especially to give vent to them at the throne of grace, where we are sure to find one who is afflicted in the afflictions of His people and is troubled with the feeling of their infirmities; thither we have boldness of access by faith, and there we have freedom of speech” (M.Henry). But how foolish of us who are the very apple of His eye to think that He has forgotten us; “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isa.49:15). Our Lord may not act on our behalf when and where we think He should, but perish the thought of His forgetting us. “How long wilt thou hide thy face from me.” Why does the Psalmist fret about His face? From His face shines the light of His countenance, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall praise Him for the help of His countenance”; meaning His favor (His face). “How long shall I take counsel in my soul?” as if his devices had become innumerable, but unavailing: sometimes it seems that all we employ does not get His attention, probably due to the fact that it doesn’t have His approval. “How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” the most disturbing of all thoughts. I think this is where the length of ones patience is reached (Ps.30:1: 35:19: 35:24: Mic7:7-8). When in such a case we seek grace and remember gold that is long in the fire must have much dross to be consumed. Prayer verses 3-4: the mercy seat is the life of hope and the death of despair, “Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in times of need.” Prayer is the hand of faith that reaches out through the prevailing darkness and lays hold of its Maker. Faith seeks to drive away the reproach and despair that tends to shut out the glory of her Creator (Ps.22). Then in verses 5-6, what a difference prayer makes; after the storm has passed the brightness of the Sun breaks through, “but unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall” (Mal.4:2). Lord help us when we’re tempted to give up to look to You with trust; cause us to praise You with rejoicing and singing. ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
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