Psalm 13
6 verses · BSBPsalms book hub →
Speaks with:Job 13×1Lamentations 5×1Psalms 89×1Micah 7×1Jeremiah 8×1Jeremiah 15×1
Summary
Chapter summary
'How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou forget me for ever?': four times the question falls. Sorrow daily in the heart, the enemy exalted. The prayer: 'lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.' Then the pivot every psalm of lament turns on: 'But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto Jehovah, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.'
Context
Poetry · David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others — Psalms overview
The world behind this chapter
Psalms 13The history
"How long" opens four lines in a row. That repetition is the form of an ancient complaint prayer, and versions of it turn up in Mesopotamian laments too, where a sufferer asks his god how long the anger will last. What is different in Israel is the relationship the question is asked inside: this is a covenant God who has bound himself by promise, so the question is not flattery to soften a mood but an appeal to a commitment.
"Hide thy face" is court language turned upside down. To have a king's face turned toward you meant favor, access, and protection; a turned-away face meant you had lost your standing at court and anyone could move against you. The priestly blessing of Numbers 6 asks God to make his face shine on Israel — this psalm is the experience of the opposite.
"Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death" comes from watching people die. The eyes of the dying dim and go dull; bright eyes meant strength and life. The prayer is for the light to come back into them.
The last line moves to the sanctuary — "I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me." A worshiper who had vowed a song in trouble came back to sing it publicly when the trouble lifted, often with a thank offering.
What it meant to them
This short psalm gave Israel permission for the complaint and a road out of it in six verses. It does not pretend the delay was short or that the fear of enemies was silly.
The turn comes on one word: "But I have trusted in thy mercy." Nothing outside has changed yet — the singer decides where to stand while it is still dark.
Sources cited
- Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David on Psalm 13
- John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
The text of this chapter
This page carries no textual note on Psalms 13. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.