Psalms 13

The occasion of this Psalm was David's deep and long continued Distresses, from which he prays for Deliverance.

HOW long wilt thou forget me, O LORD, for ever How long wilt thou forget (i. e. neglect or disregard) me? For ever?? how long wilt thou hide thy face (i. e.) Withdraw thy Favour and assistance. from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my Soul How long shall I be in such perplexities and anxieties of Mind, not knowing what course to take, nor how to get out of my Troubles.; having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes Either 1. Because I find my Counsel insufficient, v. 2. do thou enlighten my mind, and guide me by thy Counsel and Spirit into the right way of obtaining thy Mercy and Help. So this Phrase is used Psal. 19. 8.... ph. 1. 18. Or 2. Do thou revive and comfort, and deliver me from the darkness of Death, which is ready to come upon me and to close mine Eyes. Nothing is more common than to express great Dangers and Calamities by Darkness, and great Comforts and Deliverances by Light, as Iob 15. 22. and 17. 13. and 30. 26. and by an enlightening of the Eyes, as Ezra. 9. 8. Comp. Prov. 15 30. and 29. 13., lest I sleep the sleep of death (i. e.) Lest I sink under my Burthen and die: for Death is oft called a Sleep in Scripture, as Iob. 3. 13. and 14. 12. Psal. 76. 5. Iohn 11. 11.;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him To wit, by my art or strength: which will reflect dishonour upon thee, as if thou wert either unfaithful and unmindful of thy Promises: o... unable to make them good. Therefore repress this their Arrogancy and Blasphemy, and maintain thine own Honour.; and those that trouble me, rejoyce when I am moved Or, stumble, or fall, to wit, into Mischief..

But I have trusted in thy mercy Neither their Threats and Brags, nor my own Dangers shall shake my Confidence in thy Mercy promised to me., my heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation.

I will sing unto the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me Either 1. In giving me that support and assurance of his Favour which for the present I enjoy. Or, 2. In giving me that Mercy which he has freely promised me: it being a common thing for David and other Prophets to speak of future Dèliverances as if they were already come, that so they may signify both the infallible certainty of the thing, and their firm assurance thereof. But the words may be rendered, When he shall have dealt bountifully with me. This Verb properly signifies to requite, or reward (as it may be taken here, for there is a reward of Grace, as well as of Debt, Rom. 4. 4.) but here it signifies a free and bountiful giving, as it does al... o Psal. 119. 17. and 142. 7..