David wrote most of the psalms and many songs of worship to God. God moved in him in dramatic ways, even conquering armies before the might which God gave him. And yet one of David’s common themes concerns being separated from the presence of God. Certainly there were times in David’s life when David felt nothing but the judgment of God, for example, after he had sinned with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. Psalm 13 may have been written at such a time, but like the first twelve psalms, it too fits the prophetic pattern we see happening today.

It is clear to me that the first twelve psalms relate very precisely to events we now see transpiring upon earth. Yes, men have always sinned, but they used to keep their sins hidden. Now men exult in their sin and even broadcast it profusely in popular movies and on-line pornography and worse. And the majority of the people eat it up. Yes, they consume sin as men consume food. And they have become what they have eaten… vile. It is in this context of the last days, then, that David says,

How long will you forget me, O LORD? forever? how long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalms 13:1-2 KJ2000)

This describes the way God’s overcomers, God’s faithful men and women, feel today. For years they have struggled against sin, choosing not to sit in the seat of sinners, nor to follow their ways. Countless days they mourned their carnal nature and longed for the purity of a glorified body and mind. Their families suffered as they determined not to go the way of the world, Mystery Babylon, and were thus fired from their jobs or passed over for promotions because they would not join in with their deceiving, thieving bosses. And so, like David, they wonder “How long O LORD? How long will you ignore my plight and allow the enemy to rule over me?”

David then appeals to God to move, to act, before he literally dies, saying,

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. (Psalms 13:3-4)

How I relate to these words! Many times I have wept at my own physical weakness and inability to do anything good to turn back the evil which prevails over the earth. I might write a new song and think it says something important, but then remember, “music doesn’t bring salvation.” I might support a certain political candidate only to realize that he lied to get my vote and does the evil things I abhor, or he might try to do the good he said he would do and then find that the system is so corrupt that no good thing can be done. And then I consider, like David, if I die now, then I have lost; the enemy has prevailed against me and all those who troubled me with their iniquity will rejoice when I am gone for they will have won. All that I ever did was as empty wind which brought forth vanity. Like everyone before me I was unable to bring salvation to the earth.

Then, like David, I have to realize that salvation rests in Christ alone.

But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. (Psalms 13:5)

And sing to the LORD for his goodness to me!

I will sing unto the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalms 13:6)