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Commentary on Psalms 13 verses 1–6
David, in affliction, is here pouring out his soul before God; his address is short, but the method is very observable, and of use for direction and encouragement.
I. His troubles extort complaints (Psa 13:1, Psa 13:2); and the afflicted have liberty to pour out their complaint before the Lord, Ps. 102 title. It is some ease to a troubled spirit to give vent to its griefs, especially to give vent to them at the throne of grace, where we are sure to find one who is afflicted in the afflictions of his people and is troubled with the feeling of their infirmities; thither we have boldness of access by faith, and there we have parrēsia - freedom of speech. Observe here,
1.What David complains of. (1.) God's unkindness; so he construed it, and it was his infirmity. He thought God had forgotten him, had forgotten his promises to him, his covenant with him, his former lovingkindness which he had shown him and which he took to be an earnest of further mercy, had forgotten that there was such a man in the world, who needed and expected relief and succour from him. Thus Zion said, My God has forgotten me (Isa 49:14), Israel said, My way is hidden from the Lord, Isa 40:27. Not that any good man can doubt the omniscience, goodness, and faithfulness of God; but it is a peevish expression of prevailing fear, which yet, when it arises from a high esteem and earnest desire of God's favour, though it be indecent and culpable, shall be passed by and pardoned, for the second thought will retract it and repent of it. God hid his face from him, so that he wanted that inward comfort in God which he used to have, and herein was a type of Christ upon the cross, crying out, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? God sometimes hides his face from his own children, and leaves them in the dark concerning their interest in him; and this they lay to heart more than any outward trouble whatsoever. (2.) His own uneasiness. [1.] He was racked with care, which filled his head: I take counsel in my soul; "I am at a loss, and am inops consilii - without a friend to advise with that I can put any confidence in, and therefore am myself continually projecting what to do to help myself; but none of my projects are likely to take effect, so that I am at my wits' end, and in a continual agitation." Anxious cares are heavy burdens with which good people often load themselves more than they need. [2.] He was overwhelmed with sorrow, which filled his heart: I have sorrow in my heart daily. He had a constant disposition to sorrow and it preyed upon his spirits, not only in the night, when he was silent and solitary, but by day too, when lighter griefs are diverted and dissipated by conversation and business; nay, every day brought with it fresh occasions of grief; the clouds returned after the rain. The bread of sorrow is sometimes the saint's daily bread. Our Master himself was a man of sorrows. (3.) His enemies' insolence, which added to his grief. Saul his great enemy, and others under him, were exalted over him, triumphed in his distress, pleased themselves with his grief, and promised themselves a complete victory over him. This he complained of as reflecting dishonour upon God, and his power and promise.
2.How he expostulates with God hereupon: "How long shall it be thus?" And, "Shall it be thus for ever?" Long afflictions try our patience and often tire it. It is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think it will last always; despondency then turns into despair, and those that have long been without joy begin, at last, to be without hope. "Lord, tell me how long thou wilt hide thy face, and assure me that it shall not be for ever, but that thou wilt return at length in mercy to me, and then I shall the more easily bear my present troubles."
II. His complaints stir up his prayers, Psa 13:3, Psa 13:4. We should never allow ourselves to make any complaints but what are fit to be offered up to God and what drive us to our knees. Observe here,
1.What his petitions are: Consider my case, hear my complaints, and enlighten my eyes, that is, (1.) "Strengthen my faith;" for faith is the eye of the soul, with which it sees above, and sees through, the things of sense. "Lord, enable me to look beyond my present troubles and to foresee a happy issue of them." (2.) "Guide my way; enable me to look about me, that I may avoid the snares which are laid for me." (3.) "Refresh my soul with the joy of thy salvation." That which revives the drooping spirits is said to enlighten the eyes, Sa1 14:27; Ezr 9:8. "Lord, scatter the cloud of melancholy which darkens my eyes, and let my countenance be made pleasant."
2.What his pleas are. He mentions his relation to God and interest in him (O Lord my God!) and insists upon the greatness of the peril, which called for speedy relief and succour. If his eyes were not enlightened quickly, (1.) He concludes that he must perish: "I shall sleep the sleep of death; I cannot live under the weight of all this care and grief." Nothing is more killing to a soul then the want of God's favour, nothing more reviving than the return of it. (2.) That then his enemies would triumph: "Lest my enemy say, So would I have it; lest Saul, lest Satan, be gratified in my fall." It would gratify the pride of his enemy: He will say, "I have prevailed, I have gotten the day, and been too hard for him and his God." It would gratify the malice of his enemies: They will rejoice when I am moved. And will it be for God's honour to suffer them thus to trample upon all that is sacred both in heaven and earth?
III. His prayers are soon turned into praises (Psa 13:5, Psa 13:6): But my heart shall rejoice and I will sing to the Lord. What a surprising change is here in a few lines! In the beginning of the psalm we have him drooping, trembling, and ready to sink into melancholy and despair; but, in the close of it, rejoicing in God, and elevated and enlarged in his praises. See the power of faith, the power of prayer, and how good it is to draw near to God. If we bring our cares and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them there, we may go away like Hannah, and our countenance will be no more sad, Sa1 1:18. And here observe the method of his comfort. 1. God's mercy is the support of his faith. "My case is bad enough, and I am ready to think it deplorable, till I consider the infinite goodness of God; but, finding I have that to trust to, I am comforted, though I have no merit of my own. In former distresses I have trusted in the mercy of God, and I never found that it failed me; his mercy has in due time relieved me and my confidence in it has in the mean time supported me. Even in the depth of this distress, when God hid his face from me, when without were fightings and within were fears, yet I trusted in the mercy of God and that was as an anchor in a storm, by the help of which, though I was tossed, I was not overset." And still I do trust in thy mercy; so some read it. "I refer myself to that, with an assurance that it will do well for me at last." This he pleads with God, knowing what pleasure he takes in those that hope in his mercy, Psa 147:11. 2. His faith in God's mercy filled his heart with joy in his salvation; for joy and peace come by believing, Rom 15:13. Believing, you rejoice, Pe1 1:8. Having put his trust in the mercy of God, he is fully assured of salvation, and that his heart, which was now daily grieving, should rejoice in that salvation. Though weeping endure long, joy will return. 3. His joy in God's salvation would fill his mouth with songs of praise (Psa 13:6): "I will sing unto the Lord, sing in remembrance of what he has done formerly; though I should never recover the peace I have had, I will die blessing God that ever I had it. He has dealt bountifully with me formerly, and he shall have the glory of that, however he is pleased to deal with me now. I will sing in hope of what he will do for me at last, being confident that all will end well, will end everlastingly well." But he speaks of it as a thing past (He has dealt bountifully with me), because by faith he had received the earnest of the salvation and he was as confident of it as if it had been done already.
In singing this psalm and praying it over, if we have not the same complaints to make that David had, we must thank God that we have not, dread and deprecate his withdrawings, sympathize with those that are troubled in mind, and encourage ourselves in our most holy faith and joy.
In this I trust, that I shall receive forgiveness of my sin, in that I hope in your mercy through which you have worked salvation for all people.
Do you see a hope-filled soul? He asked, and before receiving he gives thanks as though having received, sings praise to God and achieves all that had been anticipated.
"But I have hoped in Your mercy" [Psalm 13:5]. Because this very thing, that a man be not moved, and that he abide fixed in the Lord, he should not attribute to self: lest when he glories that he has not been moved, he be moved by this very pride.
It is clear also from this that he uttered this psalm after the sin: he relies not on his righteousness but on mercy and says it is in this that he trusts.
The love of God is a spring shower of virtues under which a blessed desire begins to bud and holy action bears fruit. This love is patient under adversities in this life, temperate in prosperity, powerful in its humility, joyful in affliction, benevolent toward enemies, and overcomes the wicked by its goodness. From this source, even heavenly creatures are constantly ignited by God’s love as a restoring flame, a growing desire for salvation. To summarize all of this with a phrase from the Apostle: “God himself is love.”
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SUMMARY
Psalms 13:5 marks a profound and pivotal shift within a psalm of deep lament, transforming the psalmist's desperate cries of abandonment into a resolute declaration of unwavering faith. This verse encapsulates the transformative power of deliberately choosing to anchor one's hope in God's unchanging character, specifically His steadfast mercy, leading to an anticipatory joy in His certain salvation, even amidst ongoing adversity. It stands as a powerful testament to the spiritual journey from profound despair to confident hope through intentional trust in the divine.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 13:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound and transformative message. The most prominent is Contrast, powerfully introduced by the emphatic "But I" (וַאֲנִי, va'ani). This serves as a dramatic and intentional pivot, starkly contrasting the preceding verses of deep lament, questioning, and despair with a sudden, resolute declaration of faith. This abrupt shift highlights the psalmist's deliberate and volitional choice to reorient his focus from his overwhelming suffering to the unchanging and reliable character of God. There is also a clear form of Parallelism, specifically synthetic parallelism, where the act of trusting in God's mercy in the first clause leads directly to the heart's rejoicing in His salvation in the second, creating a cause-and-effect relationship that profoundly underscores the transformative power of faith. The phrase "my heart shall rejoice" utilizes Metonymy, where the "heart" represents the entire inner person—emotions, will, and spirit—emphasizing that this joy is a holistic, internal, and deeply personal response. Furthermore, the verse exhibits powerful Anticipatory Language, as the psalmist declares he shall rejoice in salvation that has not yet fully manifested in his present circumstances. This is a profound statement of Faith as Assurance, where the future reality of God's certain deliverance is so assured and real to the psalmist that it can be celebrated in the present, even amidst ongoing distress and unfulfilled longing.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 13:5 offers profound theological insights into the very nature of faith, the unwavering character of God, and the authentic human experience of suffering. It teaches us that genuine faith is not the absence of doubt, pain, or questioning, but rather a deliberate, courageous choice to anchor oneself firmly in God's unchanging character, specifically His ḥeseḏ (steadfast love and covenant loyalty), even when circumstances seem to overwhelmingly contradict His goodness or presence. This verse beautifully illustrates the dynamic journey inherent in lament psalms, where honest and raw wrestling with God's perceived absence or delay ultimately gives way to a powerful re-affirmation of His constant presence and unfailing faithfulness. The psalmist's remarkable ability to rejoice in anticipated salvation underscores that hope in God is not merely wishful thinking or a desperate plea, but a confident expectation rooted in His proven track record of deliverance and the absolute certainty of His covenant promises. This anticipatory joy profoundly transforms the present experience of suffering, offering profound strength, divine perspective, and enduring peace.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 13:5 serves as an invaluable spiritual compass for every believer navigating life's inevitable storms and seasons of prolonged waiting. It challenges us to move beyond our initial, often natural, cries of lament and despair—not by denying our pain or suppressing our questions, but by deliberately and consciously re-anchoring our focus on God's unchanging character. The psalmist's emphatic "But I" is a profound invitation to each of us to make a conscious, volitional choice to trust, even when our emotions scream otherwise, when circumstances seem bleak, and when God's presence feels distant. Our trust is not to be placed in the shifting sands of our circumstances, the fleeting nature of our feelings, or the perceived stability of human efforts, but firmly and solely in God's steadfast mercy (ḥeseḏ)—His loyal, covenantal love that never fails and endures forever. This provides an unshakeable, eternal foundation for our faith. Furthermore, the verse profoundly encourages us to cultivate a heart that can genuinely rejoice in God's salvation even before it fully manifests in our visible reality. This anticipatory joy, born of confident hope and unwavering assurance, empowers us to endure with resilience, transforming our perspective from one of victimhood to one of victorious expectation. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's deliverance is not merely a possibility but a divine certainty, and we can begin to celebrate it now, allowing His promised future to infuse our present with profound strength, peace, and an unshakeable hope.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the psalmist shift so suddenly from despair to trust in this psalm?
Answer: The seemingly sudden shift in Psalms 13:5 is not an indication of emotional instability or a denial of pain, but rather a deliberate and theologically significant act of faith. It represents a conscious, volitional choice by the psalmist to reorient his focus from his overwhelming and distressing circumstances to the unchanging character and covenant faithfulness of God. This pattern is a hallmark of lament psalms, where the psalmist pours out their heart in raw complaint and earnest petition, but then, through an act of remembrance, resolve, or prophetic insight, chooses to recall God's past faithfulness and His unfailing covenant promises. This re-anchoring in God's steadfast love (chesed) allows for a profound shift in perspective, leading to a declaration of trust and anticipatory joy, even before the external situation changes. It powerfully demonstrates that genuine faith is often a volitional act, a courageous decision to trust God despite what one sees or feels in the moment, leaning into the truth of His character. For another example of this pattern, consider the journey of faith in Psalm 77.
What is the significance of "mercy" in this verse, and how does it relate to God's character?
Answer: The term "mercy" in Psalms 13:5 translates the rich and profound Hebrew word chesed (חֶסֶד), which is far more encompassing than mere pity or compassion. Chesed embodies God's steadfast love, His unwavering covenant loyalty, His unfailing kindness, and His enduring faithfulness. It describes a love that is active, committed, and graciously demonstrated, forming the very backbone of God's relationship with His people. The psalmist's trust is rooted in this specific, reliable aspect of God's character—His covenantal love that never fails and is the foundation of His promises. It's not a trust based on God's power alone, but on His benevolent, faithful, and committed nature, which compels Him to act on behalf of those He loves and with whom He has made a covenant. This concept is central to the biblical understanding of God, often paired with His compassion and grace, as seen in the foundational declaration of God's character to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 13:5 finds its ultimate and most profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies both the depths of human lament and the triumph of absolute trust. While the psalmist cried out, "How long, O Lord?", Jesus, in His full humanity, experienced the agonizing depths of human suffering, abandonment, and even cried out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34. Yet, like the psalmist, Jesus' trust in the Father's mercy (ḥeseḏ) was absolute and unwavering, even unto death. He committed His spirit into the Father's hands Luke 23:46, demonstrating perfect reliance on divine chesed in the face of ultimate suffering. The "salvation" (yᵉshûwʻâh) that the psalmist anticipated is fully and definitively realized in Christ's atoning work on the cross and His glorious resurrection. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus secured the ultimate deliverance from sin, death, and the power of the grave, making God's boundless mercy and saving grace accessible to all who believe. Our ability to "rejoice in thy salvation" is now grounded not merely in a future hope, but in the accomplished fact of Christ's victory over sin and death. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world John 1:29, and His resurrection is the ultimate vindication of God's mercy, the fulfillment of all promises, and the very source of our living hope 1 Peter 1:3. Thus, Psalms 13:5 powerfully points us to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith Hebrews 12:2, in whom all God's promises find their resounding "Yes" and "Amen" 2 Corinthians 1:20.