How Long, O LORD?
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? ...
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
-- Psalm 13:2, 5
Theme: A good prayer when depressed
Outline
1-2 -- Feeling deserted by God's delays,
3-4 -- he prays for light in the darkness of his despair,
5-6 -- and resolves to trust, to hope, and to rejoice in the Lord's love.
Notes
• Lament -- Penitential (See Psalm 6.)
• The "enemy" -- the devil who takes many forms (Luther).
• Steadfast love (hesed) -- the greatest of all realities. "It ... signifies that continued forbearance of God by which he 'keepeth covenant' (Deuteronomy 7:9) with Israel, even when Israel is slow to keep his commandments and is wayward ... "1 "The word ... is used in various forms to designate God's dealings with man, and also to indicate the mode in which men ought to deal with one another." The KJV translated the word "mercy" and its faithful recipients, "merciful."2
• "How long?" is spoken four times -- the eternal human cry.
For Reflection
• When God delays in coming to help us, what are we to do? (See Luke 18:1 ff.)
• See Psalm 130 ("For Reflection").
• Did Jesus pray this prayer with us and for us in his passion?
Prayer
Lord God, the evil one would make us feel deserted and rejected. Your Son overcame him by his death and resurrection, so even as we live in the shadow of death, his victory is promised to us. May the light of your presence shine that we may have hope and joy even in the darkness, through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. A. Richardson, A Theological Wordbook (New York: MacMillan, 1950), p. 143.
2. R.B. Girdlestone, Synonymns Of The Old Testament (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000), p. 111.
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? ...
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
-- Psalm 13:2, 5
Theme: A good prayer when depressed
Outline
1-2 -- Feeling deserted by God's delays,
3-4 -- he prays for light in the darkness of his despair,
5-6 -- and resolves to trust, to hope, and to rejoice in the Lord's love.
Notes
• Lament -- Penitential (See Psalm 6.)
• The "enemy" -- the devil who takes many forms (Luther).
• Steadfast love (hesed) -- the greatest of all realities. "It ... signifies that continued forbearance of God by which he 'keepeth covenant' (Deuteronomy 7:9) with Israel, even when Israel is slow to keep his commandments and is wayward ... "1 "The word ... is used in various forms to designate God's dealings with man, and also to indicate the mode in which men ought to deal with one another." The KJV translated the word "mercy" and its faithful recipients, "merciful."2
• "How long?" is spoken four times -- the eternal human cry.
For Reflection
• When God delays in coming to help us, what are we to do? (See Luke 18:1 ff.)
• See Psalm 130 ("For Reflection").
• Did Jesus pray this prayer with us and for us in his passion?
Prayer
Lord God, the evil one would make us feel deserted and rejected. Your Son overcame him by his death and resurrection, so even as we live in the shadow of death, his victory is promised to us. May the light of your presence shine that we may have hope and joy even in the darkness, through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. A. Richardson, A Theological Wordbook (New York: MacMillan, 1950), p. 143.
2. R.B. Girdlestone, Synonymns Of The Old Testament (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000), p. 111.
