PM June 29th Psalm 13

June 29^th Psalm 13

A Psalm of David A Prayer for help

1: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3: Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6: I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

To the chief musician,

Psalm 14

A Psalm of David The sinfulness of man

1: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2: The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3: They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4: Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. 5: There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6: Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. 7: Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

On this day in June we are reading in Psalm 13 and 14. Both of these Psalms were written by David. In Psalm 13 David calls on the Lord in his time of distress because he feels that the Lord has forsaken him. The salvation of the Lord seems to be a long time in coming and David is getting more and more desperate. He asks how long will l talk to myself and have sadness in my soul every day? And he asks how long will you allow my enemy to rejoice against me? He aks for the Lord to think about him and to shed his light upon his eyes because if not that he will be killed and then his eyes will be shut in the grave. David says do not let my enemy overcome me and be able to rejoice at my downfall. He says they want to hurt me, but l have put my trust in the Lord and my heart will yet rejoice in my salvation. In that day l will sing to the LORD because he has given me so many blessings that l cannot count them all. In Psalm 14 David comments on the foolish men who live as if there is no God. Who become increasingly corrupted in their deeds and none of then live righteously. The LORD sees all men and he looks to seek if there are any that truly seek after him. Yet God sees that among the foolish there are none that are holy or that live righteously. He speaks in incredulity – Is there none among those who do works of wickedness that have any knowledge? They devour the people of the Lord as if they are eating bread. And they do not call on the LORD. They will suddenly fall into great fear because God is with the generation of the righteous. The poor have a refuge in the Lord and therefore the wicked will come to shame. If only the salvation of Israel were to come out of Zion when the LORD brings deliverance to his people. In that day Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.

• How does David describe what happens when the Lord delays his deliverance in Psalm Thirteen?
• Why is the fool a fool in Psalm Fourteen?
• Where are all the righteous?