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GETTING A SONG BACK INTO OUR HEARTS (Book study series - Psalms) - Message no. 13 We see the power of lyric of this short poem as expression for rapid changes of emotion. In the compass of three short stanzas, decreasing in length as they proceed, we have the alternation or shifting from the deepest despair to the profoundest peace. Perhaps in this Psalm 13 is the record of an eventful period of David’s life, when he had to make a hundred shifts to escape from Saul, and David feared often to close his eyes, lest David should never awake alive. However, Psalm 13:3 sounds rather like the cry of a person who is suffering from sickness. Certainly, this Psalm 13 is intense in its record of personal feeling of the writer.
David was hunted and hounded by King Saul and his allies for approximately nine years of his life. David had not done one thing that he deserves this kind of animosity that made him drained and depressed most of the time.
Psalm 13 has been called the “How Long” Psalm because if we notice that four times in the first two verses, David question “how long” is asked.
The real emphasis of the psalm is clearly seen by changing the psalm “how long” to the psalm of “how-ling.” Psalm 13 presents the “agony of desertion.”
Clearly, our trials in life are time related and God controlled the time. That time of trouble sometimes will seem to last so long. Life will have its share of time that related to troubles and even the servants of God may think that God forgotten and abandoned them. However, through trusting God personally, a believer may come boldly to the throne of God and that sorrow he have can eventually be turned into a song. That is getting a song back into the heart.
Psalm 13 specifically is about getting out of depression when you feel all alone and other people around you are causing the problem against you. We may slip into the depression when there are enemies and adversaries who turned against us in our life. Psalm 13 is so important during that time.
The emphasis of Psalm 13 is:
THE ADVERSARIES AND TROUBLE THAT CAUSED THE BELIEVER TO BE DEPRESSED MAY GET A SONG BACK INTO HIS HEART, BY PRAYING, TRUSTING AND WORSHIPPING GOD.
It does not matter how depressed or discouraged we are, this psalm 13 can help us to get back up and to get a song back into our heart.
The three main parts of Psalm 13:
I – THE REACTION OF DAVID – v.1-2 Psalm 13:1-2 "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?”
Awit 13:1-2 “O Panginoon, hanggang kailan? Kalilimutan mo ba ako magpakailanman? Hanggang kailan mo ikukubli ang iyong mukha sa akin? 2 Hanggang kailan ako kukuha ng payo sa aking kaluluwa, at magkaroon ng kalungkutan sa aking puso buong araw? Hanggang kailan magtatagumpay ang aking kaaway laban sa akin?” FILIPINO VERSION
We can see here that the faithful believer is in a “how long” depression of his life. David was depressed but it was not sin-induced. David had not done something evil to bring this sin on him. Nothing in David’s life that needed to be confessed. David was under great attack and David’s emotions were destructing him. It seems like the writer is crying, “How long shall I be in such perplexities, not knowing what course to take?” David cries out to God “How long” four times repeated in these two verses, that is implying the extended or prolonged trials of the Psalmist. What this tells us is that this trial had lasted for quite some time. It indicates that it had apparently lasted long enough that David thought God had forgotten him and was actually hiding His face from David. David have tempted often times feeling bordering on despair, after Saul persecuted him that continued for years, and it appeared that there is no hope of termination. So, David cried “how long wilt thou forget me, Lord? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? how long…my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” David depressing moments of experiences adapted or fitted him to speak a word in season to whosoever exposed to prolonged or extended and wearing-out afflictions in life. When you and I have to spread our complaints before God, we are not the first who have done so. When we complain of God's forsaking us, we are not alone. There was a greater than David who, even in the article of death, cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” that is Jesus cried with a loud voice at the Cross (Matthew 27:46) (Psalm 22:1). Some have viewed this psalm as the complaint of the Israel during their bondage and as they experienced darkness, so the Jewish people praying for the coming of the Messiah as Israel deliverer. The four-fold cry of David, “How long?” thus refers to the four-fold captivity of the Jews, from the hands of the Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Grecian, and the Roman. In verse 1 it says, "How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever?" The double question in the Authorized version is unnecessary, though it shows how ill writing the poet has begun on one plan, and finished on another. (Psalm 9:3 “When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence”). The statement in verse 1 “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever?” could be translated, “How long wilt thou continue to forget me?” Now, in verse 2 “How long shall I take counsel in my soul?”. The words “take counsel in my soul” literally, “put plans unto my soul”. When thou, the Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6) could suggest one to ensure immediate deliverance. But, David could not sense God’s presence in any way. David thought he was on his own. David actually thought he needed to put plans to himself. Here, the hopeless perplexity is described, wherein the believer now thinks of one plan, now of another plan, and then finally the believer gives up all plan as being all alike of no avail. Davis was on that same status when, hunted like a bird upon the mountains,” David sought refuge at one time in the caves and hills, at another among the Moabites, at another among the Philistines; and at last, brought to his wits’ends. David despondently in I Samuel 27:1 “David said in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.”. David outward affliction was not his chief trouble, but the most bitter taste that David had was the seeming indifference of God to his pain was the hiding of heavenly Father’s face from David (v.1). Again the words in verse 2, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul?” It seems the plans formed in the mind turn to sorrows as they are frustrated. However, it is so doubtful whether nephesh can stand for the mind, that is why it is better to render, “how long shall I form plans against my soul (having) sorrow in my heart all the day?” But on the next verse, that is verse 3 says “…lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; …” confirms the suspicion that suicide had been in the psalmist’s mind. Therefore it is also the sorrows in the mind. Notice in verse 2 David says, “my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? …mine enemy..exalted over me?”, This is the believer’s cry to Yahweh, because of the enemy’s exaltation. David’s enemies seemed to be on top of the world and seemed to have the upper hand. It was almost as if God had left David and blessed his enemies. That enemy’s exaltation causes the daily sorrow of the believer, while Yahweh seems to forget him as believer, as he said in verse 1 “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?... how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”. This is a believer’s prayer for the light of deliverance from death, because the believer is revived by the assurance of salvation, so that he sings joyful thanksgivings. Notice in verse 2 “having sorrow in my heart daily?” Every day was a depressing day and David had sorrow in his heart all day long. The word “daily,” to some there is a doubt about this rendering, for they are relying on Ezekiel 30:16 “have distresses daily.” Distresses. What can we learn from verses 1 and 2? We learned a valuable lesson in these first two verses that when we as believers are experiencing trials and they have extended for a long time, our feelings and thoughts can start to play tricks on us, especially when our relationship with God is at stake. Always remember, God can never forget His children. God can never ever totally forsake His believers. Although sometimes it is true that there will be a moment our enemies may appear to be getting the best of us, but that it would only for a short period of time. We should never allow what we feel to become the basis for what we believe. Emotions can deceive us. Not because David felt something did not mean his emotions was true. I cannot help but think of Jesus Christ, our Savior. While Jesus was hanging on that cross, it appeared as if every one of His enemies had won the battle, had won the victory. It appeared that His enemies were winners and Jesus was the defeated, the loser against the satanic power of darkness. However, nothing was further from the truth. The cross of Jesus Christ became the condemnation of all His enemies; the humiliation of Jesus became the damnation of His enemies and it became our salvation, Amen! It takes God the Father did forsake God the Son for a moment, but in that one precious moment, His only begotten Son Jesus was accomplishing His greatest victory through the redemption of all sinners and through His shedding blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. Amen! Listen, there may be moments in our life when it may appear as though we have been forsaken by God. There is nothing wrong with that, that is not all bad. God may be using the perplexities, troubles in life to accomplish His greatest purposes for our good and for His glory. When we are all alone, sad and when we are totally abandoned and feel we are on our own, we need to learn to wait patiently, faithfully on God and trust God because He causes all things to work together for good as He may be arranging everything for the greatest victory in our spiritual life. Amen!
- - - - - To be Continue on - - - Part 2 (October 6, 2021)
II – THE REQUESTS OF DAVID – v.3-4 Psalm 13:3-4 "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."
Awit 13:3-4 "O Panginoon kong Diyos, bigyang-pansin at sagutin mo ako, ang aking mga mata'y paliwanagin mo, baka sa kamatayan matulog ako; 4 baka sabihin ng aking kaaway, "Laban sa kanya, ako'y nagtagumpay:" sapagkat ako'y nayayanig; baka magalak ang aking kaaway."
We can see in verse 3 and verse 4 that the faithful believer makes his specific requests to God.
Joyful confidence follows as fruit of prayer, while he is still praying (Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”)
Prayer follows complaint in the Believer’s case. Instead of complaints against God and complaints against man, the believer brings all to God; instead of turning from God, the believer makes sorrows a ground for turning to God.
Nobody who studied these Psalms without always realizing that troubles and trials constrained or motivated David to kneel on his knees and cry to the throne of God. Difficulties and heaviness made David to be a prayer warrior and that is exactly what we should learn and encourage us to do. David makes three specific requests and all of these three requests are essential and valuable in Hebrew..
Three specific requests of David: A. The Request to consider David - v.3a Psalm 13:3a “Consider…”
Psalm 13:3a “O Panginoon kong Diyos, bigyang-pansin” FILIPINO VERSION
In verse 3 David says, “Consider and hear me, O Lord.” As David had complained of four evils (verses 1,2), so he begs four goods. To the "Lord's forgetting" and "hiding His face from him" (verse 1), David opposes by saying in verse 3 "Consider (look upon me with favour) [in Hebrew habiyTaah (H5027)] and "hear (answer) me" [in Hebrew neeniy (H6030)] (verse 3). To the “taking counsel” and “and having sorrow in the heart daily” (verse 2), David opposes by saying in verse 3, “lighten mine eyes” to his “enemy” being “exalted over” him (verse 2) and David opposes, “Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him” (verse 4).
The first important request is for God to consider. The verb “consider” in Hebrew means David is demanding that God “look” at and “behold” David and his present and personal specific situation he is experiencing.
If we study grammatically in Hebrew, once we have an imperative that was given after an interrogative question sentence that is “How long?”, there will be an expected consequence we can see. The point is, David expected God to look at him now as an effect and result of the length of time extended for his trial or trouble in life. David “how long” question became the basis for his very essential request for God to look or behold David. The emphasis of the idea for God looking and beholding at David is the idea for God looking to bestow upon David His favorable divine blessings.
The reason why David is crying out to God not because something went wrong in his day. David has a reason in crying out to God since trouble has been with his life for a long period of time and David expecting the intervention of God. Sometimes, when we are experiencing trials, troubles and difficulties in life, it is not that we need to get the attention of God, but sometimes it takes God awhile to get our attention because God has some message, He wants to express to us for our good. Sometimes, it really takes God awhile to get our attention. It takes God awhile to show us and prove to us that we must rely on Him and do not depend on anything and even to ourselves. When we finally learned this truth, we will understand that it is not just we should cry out to God but it is that we must cry out to God. Not just we should but we must, so David cried out “Consider and hear me, O Lord.”
B. The request to answer David – v. 3b Psalm 13:3b “hear me, O Lord my God:”
Awit 13:3b “O Panginoon kong Diyos,..sagutin mo ako,” FILIPINO VERSION
As David asking God to answer his prayer, David uses another imperative or very vital important thing. With full of his emotion, David wants God to answer his cry and not only to look at him and behold his situation.
Are you doing what David has done? Have you ever cried out to God, “O Lord please, answer me”? Exactly that is the way what David was doing.
Did you notice something? Did you observe something? David called God as “O Lord, my God.” Do you see that?
God knew God as his personal God and he did not just believe in the majesty and Sovereignty of God, for David had a personal relationship with God. David said “my God.”
David was aware that God was watching him with care and listening to him intently.
We can only go to and cried to God exactly how David go to God if we have develop a relationship with the Lord that recognizes that God is your Sovereign and personal God.
David viewed God as “LORD” (Jehovah), the self-existing Sovereign “I am”, the all-knowing, the all power One. But David on the other hand had such a personal relationship with God whom he could call “my God.” That was the concept of God that lead David to boldly come to pray.
C. The request to enlighten David – v.3c Psalm 13:3c “lighten mine eyes.”
Awit 13:3c “ang aking mga mata'y paliwanagin mo” FILIPINO VERSION
The Hebrew word “lighten” or “enlighten” means David is asking God to give him light and shining light not only to his eyes, but also to David’s mind and life. There were things in the life of David that were very dark that is why David is asking God for some shining light. Three reasons why God needed to put back the light into David’s life:
1. David was dying – v.3d
Psalm 13:3d “lest I sleep the sleep of death;”
Awit 13:3d “baka sa kamatayan matulog ako;” FILIPINO VERSION
David was dying physically, emotionally and spiritually. David needed the help of God. Now is the moment that David needed the help of God. David was a living corpse. David’s life was zapped.
In verse 3 David says, “lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;” Literally, it renders “give light to my eyes that I may not go to sleep in death,” It means go to sleep and never wake; “sleep unto death.” This is a “perpetual sleep”, as in the judgement of God against Babylon (Jeremiah 51:39 “sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord,”; Jeremiah 51:57 “and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.”).
The word “lighten” means to revive and comfort, and deliver from the darkness of death, which is ready to come to a person. The failure of vital power betrayed itself in his lack-luster eyes. When it is dark, very dark, we get drowsy. Sorrow induces sleep. Remember how the Savior found the disciples sleeping for sorrow. Therefore, David asks for light. Light will help him to keep awake, and he fears to sleep, so he prays, “lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.”
The phrase “enlighten my eyes” (NASB) is tantamount to, restore to a person the vital power well-nigh gone. That is why Jonathan’s “eyes were enlightened” (I Samuel 14:27 “But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.”; I Samuel 14:29 “Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.”), when, after darkness of death was veiling his eyes, he tasted the honey-comb and revived. Another example is the Israel concerning their bondage, Ezra 9:8 “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” Secondarily, as the withdrawal of the experience of God’s favour was the chief among David’s trials, so the restoration of the experience of God’s favour was the chief good that David longed for, including all other goods.
2. David’s enemies will dominate – v.4a Psalm 13:4a “Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;”
Awit 13:4a “baka sabihin ng aking kaaway, ‘Laban sa kanya, ako'y nagtagumpay;’” FILIPINO VERSION
Please take a look on verse 4 it says, “Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;” David pleads that the honour of God would be compromised if the enemy should prevail over him or will have overcome him. This is an effectual, fruitful plea with God (Deuteronomy 32:27 “Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.”). Yes, this is a precious thing to think, that we can hear the chain rattle as the anchor goes down to hold the vessel. Amen! There is the peaceful calm of God to hold and control everything.
David did not want that his enemies will be proudly and publicly proclaimed how they had prevailed against David or overcome David. God needed to come to rescue David so that the adversaries of David would be stop and silenced.
3. David’s adversaries will be delighted – v.4b Psalm 13:4b “and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved”
Awit 13:4b “sapagkat ako'y nayayanig; baka magalak ang aking kaaway.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice in verse 4 it seems David is saying “Lest…those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.” David refers that those adversaries that trouble him from his faith and steadfastness of walk with God (Illustration: Jesus viewed in Luke 22:31, what would happen to Peter similarly to what had happened to Job (Job 1:6-7). Sifting as wheat pictures Satan’s attempt to separate Peter’s faithfulness to Jesus from him (Job 1-2). The Greek word translated "you" (hymas) is in the plural indicating that Simon was not the only disciple whom Satan desired to sift. Sufficiently proves that these words were not addressed to Peter alone. Satan had already got one, Judas; he had nearly got another, Peter; and he wished to have all. But we see by this that the devil cannot even tempt a man unless Satan receive permission. Satan desires to do all evil; Satan is permitted only to do some. Probably Jesus used the name "Simon," Peter’s given Jewish name, because it pictured Peter in his natural state, not as Peter the rock. He probably repeated it in pathos anticipating the sad consequence of Satan’s testing. - Luke 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”). In our context, not only David pleads because the honour of God would be compromised if his adversaries should prevail or overcome him but David also pleads because if God’s servant shaken or moved, he would become the rejoicing and jest or mischief of his ungodly foes who troubled him.
David was the man of God. Whosoever against David would likely rejoice over the fact that the man of God had been toppled. This is exactly the reason why David had earnestly cried out to God.
Notice the progression in this psalm. After David has stopped counselling himself in verse 2, David has started crying out to God.
The hymn entitled “What a Friend we have in Jesus” by Joseph Scriven is correct as we sing the song “Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”
- - - -To be continued on - - - Part 3 (October 13, 2021)
III – THE REJOICING OF DAVID – v.5-6 Psalm 13:5-6 ““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.”
Awit 13:5-6 “Ngunit ako'y nagtiwala sa tapat mong paglingap, sa iyong pagliligtas, puso ko'y magagalak. 6 Ako'y aawit sa Panginoon, sapagkat ako'y pinakitunguhan niya na may kasaganaan.” FILIPINO VERSION
The formula found in these Psalm 13, is much better than any pill or medicine you will used to take for your depression. The advice or prescription given here is far greater than any pharmacist, psychologist or psychiatrist.
We can see here David had no one to depend on or someone to deliver him from his distresses except God and God was all David needed.
Any person in depression who follows this pattern will get out of their despair just like what David did,
Four Pattern to get out of depression: 1. David Prayed to God – v.3-4 Psalm 13:3-4 “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.”
Awit 13:3-4 “O Panginoon kong Diyos, bigyang-pansin at sagutin mo ako, ang aking mga mata'y paliwanagin mo, baka sa kamatayan matulog ako; 4 baka sabihin ng aking kaaway, “Laban sa kanya, ako'y nagtagumpay;” sapagkat ako'y nayayanig; baka magalak ang aking kaaway.” FILIPINO VERSION
We have already discussed previously this first pattern. When a person was depressed, the great lesson he needs to learn is prayer. We need to get one on one with God and pray whenever we are depressed and in trouble condition. Prayer is key part to get out of depression. But pray without ceasing as an essential part of Christian warfare. 2. David Trusted God – v.5a Psalm 13:5a “But I have trusted in thy mercy;…”
Awit 13:5a “Ngunit ako'y nagtiwala sa tapat mong paglingap” FILIPINO VERSION
In verse 5 says, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; [checed (H2617 )] my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” David’s rejoicing in the Lord’s salvation, which David anticipates by faith, stands in contrast to the enemy’s rejoicing in David anticipated fall.
David knew that God was the only one he could trust to help him get out of depression.
David trusted in the “loving-kindness” or “mercy” of God. David began to realize the mercy of God and how he rejoice for God help the helpless and that incite or motivate him to trust God. David stopped to rely and depend on himself and began to trust God with all his confidence.
Again, notice David says, “But I,” that is an emphatic words that can renders “but far as for me.” We can see the most complete peace that has taken place of the despair of David with which the psalm shows us from the opening of this psalm. The rhythm of the Hebrew seems to express the restfulness of the thought, “It hath a dying fall.” It seems now that David most like saying, “Yea, I will praise the name of the Lord most high.”
3. David rejoiced in God – v.5b Psalm 13:5b “my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”
Awit 13:5b “sa iyong pagliligtas, puso ko'y magagalak.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice David rejoice wholeheartedly in his salvation. David surely could not rejoice in the circumstances occurred in his life, but David personally could rejoice in God’s deliverance and protection against his enemies.
4. David worshipped God – v.6 Psalm 13:6 “I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”
Awit 13:6 “Ako'y aawit sa Panginoon, sapagkat ako'y pinakitunguhan niya na may kasaganaan.” FILIPINO VERSION
David says in verse 6, “I will sing “, for it is a common thing to do for David and other prophets to speak of future deliverances as if they were already come, so that they may signify both the infallible certainty of the thing, and their firm assurance that God will perform it.
David gave the reason why he said, “I will sing unto the Lord,” he says, “because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” - The Hebrew [gaamal (H1580)] commonly means to requite; and here means, to deal bountifully with David, making up for David’s former adversity, as in Psalms 119:17 “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.”; Psalms 142:7 “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”; Zechariah 9:12 “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;”; Isaiah 40:2 “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.”
In this Psalm 13 we see there is an amazing climb, from the abyss of sorrow up to the summit of joy, when David says, “I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.” Hopingly, many of us know what this blessed change in this statement of David means. If any of you are now experiencing great sorrow in life, may my Lord and Master lighten your eyes! This exposition narrative in the life of David consisted of reading from Psalms 12, 13 and 14.
Although, we can worshipped God every moments of our lives, whatever we are doing and everywhere as long as our heart is holy, acceptable unto God and doing the perfect will of God, but when the troubled and depressed believers stop going to church to worship God, they mistakenly made the wrong decision since going to church to worship God is one of the keys in getting out of depression. Worshipping God helps us when we are depressed and this what can put a song back in our heart.
When Psalm 13 opens, David is crying out to God and when this Psalm ends, David is singing praises to God.
Things we learn in this Psalm 13:
GOD BLESS US! |