Even though David was a man after God’s own heart (1st Samuel 13:14), he experienced spiritual peaks and valleys in his life. The valley of Psalm 13 was especially dark and deep.
The resounding, haunting question of “How long?” reverberated in his sorrow-filled heart (v. 2). David felt forgotten by God, like God had hidden His face from him (v. 1). David’s lonely soul ached with a poignant sense of loss and grief; his enemy rejoiced vigorously over his distress (v. 2).
Second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day such agony of soul continued. How long could this last? How long would this last? How long could David last?
How did David get out of this dark spiritual valley? Psalm 13:3-5 records the divine remedy:
- He prayed to God earnestly, expectantly, and reverently. “Consider and hear me, O Lord my God” (v. 3).
- He sought God’s wisdom. “Enlighten my eyes” (v. 3).
- He stated his fears honestly and precisely. “lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed against him’; lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved (vv. 3-4).
- He reflected upon God’s past blessings and renewed His determination to trust Him for future deliverance. “But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (v. 5).
David’s conclusion—”I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (v. 6)—indicates that Jehovah had yet again transformed another night of darkness into a day of light! What a metamorphosis!
