Bible Commentaries
Psalms 13

Introduction

Psalms 13:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

Verses 1-2

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 13:1-2 1How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Psalms 13:1-2 Notice the structure of this introductory strophe is four “how long” (BDB 723 II, cf. Psalms 6:3; Psalms 90:13) questions.

1. two in Psalms 13:1

2. two in Psalms 13:2

They are a literary way of expressing the psalmist's frustration at his current circumstances. He felt abandoned by God.

1. forgotten by God, Psalms 13:1a

2. God has hidden Himself, Psalms 13:1b

3. personal sorrow, Psalms 13:2a,b

4. his enemy is exalted, Psalms 13:2c

Notice #1 and #2 also appear together in Psalms 10:11. The theme of a sense of abandonment is beautifully expressed in Psalms 42:0. The sense of abandonment is only the perception of the hurting psalmist. The reality is YHWH is with us, for us, and will act on our behalf in appropriate, timely ways!

Psalms 13:1 “forever” This word (BDB 664) is a hyperbolic idiom expressing the psalmist's feelings of being permanently abandoned by God.

▣ “face” This, too, is a Hebrew idiom of personal presence (cf. Psalms 11:7; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 27:4, Psalms 27:8). For some reason (i.e., personal sin, cf. Psalms 13:3b or illness, 3b) YHWH has seemingly turned away.

Psalms 13:2 “soul. . .heart” These two are parallel and denote Hebrew ways of personifying the person. For “soul” (nephesh) see note at Genesis 35:18 online. For “heart” see Special Topic: Heart.

▣ “all the day” This idiom means “all the time.” This does not mean that the sorrow lasts only during daylight hours.

Verses 3-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 13:3-4 3Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

Psalms 13:3-4 This strophe is a prayer for God to answer his prayer questions of Psalms 13:1-2.

There is a series of three imperatives (i.e., prayer requests).

1. consider (lit. “look”) BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil imperative, cf. Psalms 80:14; Lamentations 1:11; Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 5:1

2. answer BDB 772, KB 851, Qal imperative

3. enlighten (lit. “cause to shine”) BDB 21, KB 24, Hiphil imperative; this may be used in the sense of

a. God answer my prayer with knowledge of your revelation (cf. Psalms 6:7; Psalms 19:8)

b. God deliver me from death (cf. Psalms 38:10)

Also notice that NASB has “lest” three times (MT, BDB 814, twice).

1. lest I die

2. lest my enemy brag

3. lest my adversaries rejoice

Verses 5-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 13:5-6 5But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 13:5-6 This is the psalmist's declaration of faith/trust/belief in YHWH.

1. I have trusted (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal perfect) in Your lovingkindness (see Special Topic: Lovingkindness). Trust is a crucial aspect of a true believer (cf. Psalms 25:5; Psalms 42:5; Psalms 65:5; Psalms 78:22; Psalms 86:2). See full note at Psalms 4:5.

2. I will rejoice (BDB 162, KB 189, Qal jussive) in Your salvation (see Special Topic: Salvation (OT Term)), which in context, refers to health restored.

3. I will sing (BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal cohortative).

In Hebrew thought death was a descent into Sheol, where no one praises God (cf. Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 88:10-12; Psalms 115:17; Isaiah 38:18). See SPECIAL TOPIC: Where Are the Dead? See notes at Psalms 13:5 and 9:13.

The psalmist bases his trust on YHWH's character and actions (i.e., “dealt bountifully with me,” BDB 168, KB 197, Qal perfect).

Psalms 13:6 “has dealt bountifully with me” This verb (BDB 168, KB 197, Qal perfect) is used several times in Psalms (cf. Psalms 116:7; Psalms 119:17; Psalms 142:7). This perfect form denotes the psalmist's certainty that YHWH will act on his behalf in the future and, therefore, states it as if it had already occurred.

▣ “with me” Interestingly the LXX translates this as a title for God”the Most High” (cf. NJB). This same change may also occur at Psalms 7:8.

The NJB does not have a vese 6. It follows the LXX versing. It also has an added line of poetry from the LXX. The NJB translates the last three lines as jussives (i.e., imperfects used in a jussive sense; characterized by “Let. . .”).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Psalms 13:1-2 describes how faithful followers feel in a fallen world. Explain this in your own words.

2. Is death a “sleep”?

3. Define and explain “lovingkindness.”

4. How does the word “salvation” change meanings from the OT to the NT?