Have you ever gone through a “spiritual desert”? A time when you are being tested. You have called out to God…No answer. Maybe you are going through such a “season” right now. I’m praying this little study will help you get through this time. So, come let’s look way back in time to see David sitting at a desk where under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he is penning Psalm 13 KJV.

¹"How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? 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? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
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.”

You may not know this, but David is at the end of his rope – he is exhausted and depressed. He and King Saul have become mortal enemies! The stress coming from all the negativity surrounding their relationship has caused David to lose his zest for life.

Drained and discouraged he has tried everything humanly to change the situation – To no avail! He has come to the point where he feels he cannot go on another day. It’s been said: “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”. As conservative scholars have remarked, Psalm 13 is – “the account of a man taken out of a horrible pit – his feet are set upon a rock, and a new song is put in his mouth – all in six verses!”

Verses 1 and 2 begin with the same question asked four times:
How long O Lord?

This is David’s way of appealing to God – he is trying to get his attention. He calls out to God on four fronts:

#1 How long will you forget me?

David feels God has abandoned him, leaving him with a deep-seated loneliness. At creation, loneliness is the first thing which God observed in Adam and commented it was not good.

Jesus experienced the pain of universal loneliness which began in the garden of Gethsemane and followed Him like a shadow to the cross where He cried out: “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 KJV)” God did not turn His back on His Son – He turned his back on our sins! Never forget His promise in Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

#2 How long will you hide your face from me?

There are times when you will have the sense that God’s presence is not with you. Psalm 66:18 states, “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” What is the remedy for the occurrence? The Bible instructs us to confess (agree with God that we have sinned). Repent (turn from our sinful behavior), ask for forgiveness and move on. Then, claim the promise of I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Sometimes when we feel God is not with us, we forget He is in control and has something He wants to teach us – He has an end-product in mind. Things can be moving so slowly that we can’t see progress, but God can!

#3 How long shall I struggle with my negative feelings?

His emotions have dragged him down. As Job said, “Man was born for trouble.” David has come to a dangerous point — He’s no longer in control of his emotions.

#4 How long shall my enemies be exalted over me?

In other words, “Don’t let them gloat now that they’ve got me” on the ropes.”

King Saul is the sitting monarch and bound to win over David. After all, he had the means, the power and the entire governing system at this command. Saul was out to get one man – David. The heat was on! One scholar wrote: “While the king was a physical giant David was in the process of becoming a spiritual giant.” Tough times can do that with God’s help.

Verse 3 states, “Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.” Up to now David has been crying out to God, but suddenly he awakens to the promise that there is power in a prayer of faith. Leading with his faith and not his fears has begun to brighten up his outlook and things begin to change.

In time, David will prevail over his enemies as David prays – believing it should be noted his prayers ask for nothing, but that God be praised for David’s coming victory.

Refocusing on Gods promises moves David’s attitude from glory to gladness. Isaiah 26:3 states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is set on thee because he trusteth in thee.”

Verse 6 reads, “I will sing unto the LORD because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” David has gone from pain to prayer and now to praise.

Let me ask you:

• Has David’s actual immediate circumstances changed? No!
• Has King Saul called off his bloodhounds and bullies? No!
• Has David received a new shipment of arms? No!

The only thing that has changed is David! He has gone all in trusting God and His promises. David’s question “How long O Lord” which he repeated four times has been answered.

As promised to you, Isaiah 40:31 states, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Don’t quit, don’t give up. Hang on to Christ and His Word!