Psalms 13:1-6 - Homilies By W. Forsyth

From despondency to peace.

The soul may pass quickly from one emotion to another—from fear to hope, from the gloom of despondency to the brightness of peace. Such a change finds expression in this psalm.

I. THE CRY . ( Psalms 13:1 , Psalms 13:2 .) Under the pressure of affliction, hard thoughts of God arise. But if there be complaint of God, it is to be observed that the complaint is carried to God. Instead of sullen murmuring, there is meek confession. Instead of bitter resentment, there is affectionate remonstrance. There is not only the "taking counsel with his own soul," which left him in deeper "sorrow," but there is the going out of himself, to cast his cares upon God, whereby he finds relief,

II. THE APPEAL . ( Psalms 13:3 , Psalms 13:4 .) Led by the Spirit, the child of God quickly turns his cry of pain into a prayer for spiritual help. The shadows were deepening; night, with its sleep of death, seemed near; but God was able to bring deliverance. Hence the urgent and passionate appeal. So when we are in peril let us cry to God. Our extremity is his opportunity. Our time of need is his time of mercy.

III. THE TESTIMONY . ( Psalms 13:5 , Psalms 13:6 .) Help seems to have come to the psalmist as to Daniel; while he was yet "speaking in prayer" ( Daniel 9:20 , Daniel 9:21 ). So it often is. God is more ready to hear than we are to ask. "He waiteth to be gracious."

1 . The peace given is real. There may still be storm without, but there is calm within.

2 . The confidence is comforting. Imagination no longer works by fear, but by hope, and brightens all the future. The soul that seemed about to enter the dark valley of the shadow of death, with the terrible fear that God was departed, now rejoices in the sunshine of God's presence ( Micah 7:9 ; Zechariah 14:7 ).—W.F.