1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? -Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV)
A hallmark of virtually all the Psalms is David’s focus on God and his enemies. These are the two points on which David keeps his attention, and action (or inaction) from one always necessitates his angst toward the other.
In this first stanza, David cries, “How long?” four times. Accompanied by this question are four poignant markers of his discouragement: God forgetting him forever, God hiding His face from David, a state of soul-sick and broken-heartedness, and his enemies being exalted. The language is covenantal. David sees the limited practical assistance from God in the areas of his concerns as well as his longing for deep abiding fellowship as matters of God’s covenantal responsibility.
This is bold, but it is true—and not just for David. (Ex 6:7, Lev 26:12, Deut 11:22 cf. Hebrews 4:14-16).