Psalm 13:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

NIV: For the director of music. A psalm of David. How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

NASB: How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

CSB: For the choir director. A psalm of David. How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

NLT: O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

KJV: 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?

NKJV: {To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

Life is not always easy. Faith in God does not always bring easy answers. Scripture does not hide this fact. Here, David joins many others in expressing his confusion and frustration to God (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). Faced with danger, it seems to David that the Lord has forgotten him. David's question of "how long?" is more than just a question of time; it's also a plea for explanation. There is a sense of "why?" carried within these complaints.

Apparently, God's promise to make David king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13) was growing faint in the face of persecution. David was encouraged when he beheld God's face, but now it seemed God had hidden His face. David expresses a similar note of concern in Psalm 22:11, where he prays: "Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help."

Believers may identify with David's feeling of abandonment. Trouble may tempt a believer to think God has abandoned them and no longer cares. However, the Lord will never forsake a believer, and He cares for him (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:7). David's struggle will not lead him to reject God; he will respond to his fears with faith (Psalm 13:5–6).

Psalm 13:1–4 exposed David's sorrow and doubt. These are not uncommon emotions, and Scripture includes moments when believers cry out to God in their confusion. In this situation, David feels the Lord has forgotten him and turned His face away. He asks the Lord how long he must struggle, seemingly alone. He asks why he is suffering this danger, and this pressure, and when his enemy will finally be defeated. He is concerned that his enemy will claim the victory over him. Though David is confused and frustrated, he does not turn away from God, as the last verses show (Psalm 13:5–6).

Perhaps facing the overwhelming prospect of a murderous king (1 Samuel 19:1–2), David cries to God in frustration. In his circumstances, he feels abandoned and unloved. He begs God to consider his situation and answer him. David is not merely asking for help; he is asking for an explanation. Despite his confusion, David continues to trust in God and does so confidently. Because God has proven Himself already, David chooses faith in the Lord.

This psalm, like so many others, honestly expresses feelings of fear and frustration. This may have been composed during David's time hiding in the wilderness from King Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2). This is one of many passages where believers sincerely cry out to God with their confusion and pain, not understanding why God has chosen to allow events to occur (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). As with those other Scriptures, this impassioned plea ends in an expression of trust and praise.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.