How Long? For Ever? – Psalm 13

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 13:1 reads, “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?  For ever?  How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”

Sometimes the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life grow so great and continue so long that our hearts are moved within us to cry out unto the Lord – “How long?  For ever?”  How long will it be before our Lord grants us deliverance?  Must we suffer forever?  This was just how David felt in the case of Psalm 13.  Yet although he began with this complaint in his heart, he ended with confidence in the Lord.

  I.  The Complaint of the Lord’s Servant.

      Psalm 13:1-2 – “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?  For ever?  How long wilt thou hide thy face from
      me?  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?  How long shall mine enemy
      be exalted over me?”

      A.  Feelings of Discouragement (v. 1a)
      B.  Feelings of Desertion (v. 1b)
      C.  Feelings of Depression (v. 2a)
      D.  Feelings of Defeat (v. 2b)

 II.  The Cry of the Lord’s Servant.

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

III.  The Confidence of the Lord’s Servant.

      Psalm 13:5-6 – “But I have trusted [past tense] in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice [future tense] in thy
      salvation.  I will sing [future tense] unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully [past tense] with me.”

      A.  An Established Trust – In the Lord’s Mercy (v. 5a)
      B.  An Expectant Joy – In the Lord’s Deliverance (v. 5b)
      C.  An Expressed Praise – Unto the Lord Himself (v. 6a)
      D.  An Encouraging Assurance – In the Lord’s Faithfulness (v. 6b)

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Prayer, Trust in God, Deliverance of Our Lord, Praising Our Lord, Faithfulness of Our Lord

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