How long, how long, how long

How long, O Yahweh? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Look and answer me, O Yahweh my God;
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
Lest my enemy says, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries rejoice that I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to Yahweh,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13

Introduction

“How long, how long, how long,” goes the refrain of this song. Beginning with a longing and yearning, it concludes with confidence that abounds. Surely David was confident in the deliverance that comes from the Lord, having such a faith that God would say he was a man after His own heart.

Something lovely about the Psalms is how they speak to the human soul. We can often get ourselves wrapped up in our shortcomings. Losing focus is easy when we obsess over being holy as He is holy to the expense of our human condition. For me, it can almost feel like resentment against myself for being the fragile and weak creature that I am before an infinitely good and righteous God. But the Lord remembers our frame, knowing that we are dust (Psalm 103:14), and does not abandon us to our own devices.

Instead, the Lord is compassionate and patient, willing to condescend for our help. But His timing is not our timing. What may seem like an eternity of torment in difficulty for us is a carefully planned moment to our God. He is not slow to accomplish what He will do, but is instead patient and kind (2 Peter 3:9).

How long?

A line being repeated four times in scripture is unusual. I have been told the number three symbolizes completeness in the Hebrew scriptures, and I am wont to believe that, considering incidents like the thrice repeated “Holy” to describe God (Isaiah 6:3). So to repeat, “how long” four times is almost like an intentional breaking of that rule.

David’s anguish in the moment he wrote this Psalm is at its breaking point. Waiting no longer seems like an option, even though it is all he can do. I am sure you have experienced that to some degree at some point in your life. We wait and wait and wait until we cannot wait any longer. And then we wait. It is agonizing. But in that time after we have spent the last of our patience, we come into the place where only God can provide.

Perhaps this is a lesson learned well by fasting. During a fast, a point comes sooner or later where you think, “I cannot do this any more”, but for the Lord’s help. In that place where you are beyond any hope you can grasp with your hands, you find the sweetness of faith that comes only from God.

But I have trusted

And here is the conclusion of the Psalm. Despite the long wait and the dire hopelessness of the situation around him, David has trusted in the covenant love of God. He is so confident that he declares, “I will sing to Yahweh.” He knows that he shall rejoice in God’s salvation.

When you are at the end of your rope and all prospects seem grim, remember that God delivers us. And His deliverance is not restricted to the spiritual realm. Of course, the deliverance we have from sin through Christ is the most important and monumental we have. But He also delivers us in bodily ways from our oppressors. Maybe not every time, and maybe not in the way we want. But His deliverance is sure, and His ways are good.

Let us trust the Lord together that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and whatever adversity we face is only temporary in the light of His salvation. He reigns forever, and has invited us into eternity with Him.

May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.