THE BROKEN HALLELUJAH
Key verse: 5
NIV
Psalm 13[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long,(A) Lord? Will you forget me(B) forever?
How long will you hide your face(C) from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts(D)
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?(E)
Footnotes
- Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
Cross references
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps 6:3
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps 42:9; La 5:20
- Psalm 13:1 : S Dt 31:17; S Ps 22:24; S Isa 8:17; S 54:9
- Psalm 13:2 : Ps 42:4; 55:2; 139:23; Isa 33:18; Da 7:28
- Psalm 13:2 : Ps 94:3
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps 9:12; 25:18; 31:7; 35:23; 59:4; 80:14; 107:41; 119:50, 153
- Psalm 13:3 : S Ps 4:1
- Psalm 13:3 : S Ezr 9:8
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps 76:5; 90:5; Jer 51:39
- Psalm 13:4 : S 1Ki 19:2; Ps 25:2
- Psalm 13:4 : Ps 38:16; 118:13
- Psalm 13:5 : S Ps 6:4
- Psalm 13:5 : S Job 33:26; Ps 9:14; Isa 25:9; 33:2
- Psalm 13:6 : S Ex 15:1; Ps 7:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.13 (A)How long, O Lord? Will you (B)forget me forever?
How long will you (C)hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take (D)counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 (E)Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
(F)light up my eyes, lest (G)I sleep the sleep of death,
4 (H)lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am (I)shaken.
5 But I have (J)trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall (K)rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
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Cross references
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps. 79:5; 89:46; [Rev. 6:10]
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps. 10:12; 44:24; 74:19, 23; Lam. 5:20
- Psalm 13:1 : See Job 13:24
- Psalm 13:2 : [Ps. 77:6]
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps. 5:1; 119:153
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps. 19:8; Ezra 9:8; Prov. 29:13; Eph. 1:18; [1 Sam. 14:27]
- Psalm 13:3 : [Jer. 51:39]
- Psalm 13:4 : Deut. 32:27
- Psalm 13:4 : See Ps. 10:6
- Psalm 13:5 : See Ps. 11:1
- Psalm 13:5 : See Ps. 9:14
13 (A)How long, O Lord? Will you (B)forget me forever?
How long will you (C)hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take (D)counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 (E)Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
(F)light up my eyes, lest (G)I sleep the sleep of death,
4 (H)lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am (I)shaken.
5 But I have (J)trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall (K)rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Cross references
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps. 79:5; 89:46; [Rev. 6:10]
- Psalm 13:1 : Ps. 10:12; 44:24; 74:19, 23; Lam. 5:20
- Psalm 13:1 : See Job 13:24
- Psalm 13:2 : [Ps. 77:6]
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps. 5:1; 119:153
- Psalm 13:3 : Ps. 19:8; Ezra 9:8; Prov. 29:13; Eph. 1:18; [1 Sam. 14:27]
- Psalm 13:3 : [Jer. 51:39]
- Psalm 13:4 : Deut. 32:27
- Psalm 13:4 : See Ps. 10:6
- Psalm 13:5 : See Ps. 11:1
- Psalm 13:5 : See Ps. 9:14
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Often, we think of David as the strong and courageous shepherd boy who fought off lions and even the Philistine Goliath with just a stone and a sling. We know David wasn’t perfect, but it is sometimes easy to brush off that he was tormented by worries, sorrows, and troubles, just like the rest of us. Doubts arose about God’s presence and care for him amid trying times, of which David had many.
This psalm teaches us that faith is not the absence of fears and doubts, but is something, if even just a whisper, that gives us hope and keeps us going. Jesus said faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Mt 17:20). David was able to find that bit of faith that could trust in God’s unfailing love and power to save. David was reminded that God has been good to him. In that glimmer of hope and gratitude, we too can find the breath to sing praises to God, even amid the storm.
Prayer: Lord, I’ve made many mistakes and have been through many storms, yet I will trust your love and salvation.
One Word: Sing the Lord’s praise
