“How long, O Lord?” David wasn’t the only one who had to wait for God’s blessings. Abraham had to wait for 25 years for the son God promised him. Joseph had to wait for over two years in prison, even though he had been falsely accused and wrongly convicted. The people of Israel languished in slavery in Egypt for 400 years, and there was another 400 years between the last of the Old Testament prophets and the coming of the Messiah whom they foretold.

“How long, O Lord?” Maybe, like David, you have human enemies who are plotting against you. Or maybe you’ve wondered how long grief and sorrow will grip your heart, or how long sickness will stalk your family (verse 2). For whatever reason, maybe you’re wondering if God has forgotten you, or worse yet, if He has turned His face away from you (verse 1).

“How long, O Lord?” David spent a lot of time waiting for the Lord’s blessings. When he was a youth, the prophet Samuel had predicted that he would be king. But David still spent years on the run from King Saul who, in his jealous paranoia, was convinced that David was plotting to seize the throne. And so he wondered: how long would it take for God to keep His promise?

Well, how did David wait for the Lord? In the first place, he never gave up on prayer. In spite of his doubts and fears, he kept on pleading for God’s grace and help: “Consider and answer me, O Lord, my God” (verse 3)! Yes, he continued to pledge his allegiance to his Lord. He kept on praying, holding his concerns up before the only One Who could possibly help him.

But while he waited, how was he able to maintain his faith God? Because even in the midst of his sorrow and anxiety, David could remember all the things God had already done for him (verse 6). He was able to keep on praying because the Lord had already demonstrated His faithful, unconditional love to David in so many ways (verse 5). Because his faith was thus founded on Who God is, even the most difficult circumstances of his life could not shake it.

Well, what about us? While we wait, will we remember the great salvation God has given to all those who trust in Christ? Will we rely on God’s love, a love that was great enough to give up His only son for us? Even while we wait for Him, can we rejoice in God’s faithfulness?

Psalm 13 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
How long, O LORD? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?
2 How 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?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD, my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 Lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” Lest my adversaries rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.