April 12, 2023 -- Psalm 13 -- The Psalm Series: the cycle of lament that leads to God's peace

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To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

 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.

Psalm 13 ESV

Dear family in Jesus Christ, doesn’t it sometimes seem that sin and sorrow and the flood of wickedness hit you wave upon wave and there is no relief? How does one move from giving voice to appropriate lamentation—that is sorrow that fills the heart and mind— and then find one's way back to a sense of equilibrium? This Psalm shows us the cycle of lament.

The writer pours out his complaint (verses 1 & 2). These are general enough so that the congregation gathered who are learning this and singing it can fill in their own details. A cancer diagnosis? A huge financial loss? A friend’s death, untimely? In-fighting within the church? A friend’s stubborn refusal of the Gospel? The Devil’s old tricks tripping you up again? Pour this out in prayer.

Notice the change, this is petition (verses 3 & 4). The Psalm writer is asking for God’s help: answer me. Consider me. Look at my sorrows. The complaint moves to petition which is asking for God’s intervention.

The 5th verse is a vow of trust. In the past God the Faithful Father has always acted in love and in accordance with His goodness and based on this the people once again decide to place their trust in Him, knowing He will do so again. So the Psalmist makes a vow to consider all HIs previous acts of  salvation and let this be what his brain thinks about, rather than constantly rehearsing all the troubles he is facing. This is what breaks the pattern of complaint. It is focusing on God’s steadfast love. Consider the salvation of the LORD as shown in Jesus Christ and how He keeps in your heart by the power of the Spirit.

The final verse is the return to peace in the presence of the LORD, that is equilibrium. It is peace that passes understanding. Though the enemy rages, or death is near, or troubles arise, the LORD our God is our hope and song. No one can take this from us. When the next wave of hardship splashes up against the believer’s life, like a mighty flood, then the cycle begins again: complaint, petition, the vow of trust and return to equilibrium, peace which is anchored in God’s goodness.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Great are You and glorious in power. We choose to sing to You today. As You have acted in faithfulness and love so Your people are confident that the grace of Jesus Christ will flow in like a tide and wash away these light and momentary troubles we are experiencing. In view of eternity and the sanctifying work which Your Spirit is effecting in us, all the troubles of this life are small in comparison to the fact that You are the Warrior-God Who guards HIs people, now and for eternity. How worthy You are and greatly to be praised. Let our minds constantly review all Your mighty acts of salvation to the praise and glory of the Father and the building up of the mighty congregation of people who belong to Jesus. Amen.

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