by In 1 Samuel 20:3, David is worn down in warfare to the point he said, “there is but a step between me and death.” 1 Samuel 19 shows what brought him to this point, where King Saul was set out to destroy him. In 19:1-7, Jonathan soothed his father’s feelings toward David. In 19:9-10, Saul’s feelings didn’t last as he tried to slay David. In 19:11-17, Saul failed so he hired assassins to murder David in his own bed. In 19:18-24, Saul sent men to where David had taken refuge with Samuel.
Psalm 13 parallels 1 Samuel 20, likely written during David’s difficult years of exile when Saul was pursuing him to the death. In this Psalm we gain insight into Saul’s hostility and David’s predicament but we also find application for us today. This Psalm is about reacting to the pains of spiritual warfare. When we find ourselves in great agony like David’s, what do we do?
- (13:1-2) David questioned God – he asked God, “Why?”
- (13:3-4) David petitioned God – he asked God for help
- (13:5-6) David praised God – he gave God his trust
Notice as Psalm 13 ends, David’s circumstances did not change. He’s still in great pain, and his enemy is still on the warpath. David began by asking God four times, “How long.” David ends with a series of God-exalting actions that climax with a final pronouncement, “God has been so good to me!” While David was down on his knees crying out to God, bringing his questions and petitions and praises to God, David was the one that changed!
There is no indication that God gave David any answer to his hard questions, nor relief to his painful circumstances. None of this changed, but this man of God changed. David was no longer on his face before God. He may have been in the same pains, however, he ends by affirming his trust in God by rejoicing in his salvation and singing praises to His God!
We’ve all been where David was, praying, “Lord, I’m hurting so bad I’m not sure I can keep going. If you don’t come soon, I think I’m about to sleep the sleep of death!” We can also be where David ended up, in the midst of our worst day, able to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
