Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 5 ▾
Suffering and Perseverance 1 Hope 1 Grace 5 Faith 5 Joy 5
Speakers 1 ▾
David human 1-6
Historic voices 7 ▾
Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 1 Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 2× 1-2 City of God 1× 1 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-6 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 3, 5 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-5
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 66 ▾
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What is Psalms 13 about?

From the failing of faithful speech David passes to the feeling of God's delay, opening the thirteenth psalm with the fourfold cry, 'How long?' as he wonders whether the LORD has forgotten him forever. He asks God to consider and lighten his eyes lest he sleep the sleep of death and his enemy prevail, giving voice to a soul that takes counsel in sorrow all the day. Yet the brief lament turns decisively, for David declares that he has trusted in God's mercy, that his heart shall rejoice in His salvation, and that he will sing to the LORD who has dealt bountifully with him. The swift movement from complaint to confidence shows faith holding fast through delay until it breaks into song.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 13
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 13
The Church Fathers on Psalms 13

Psalms 13

Psalms Chapter 13
13
1How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3Considerand answer me, O Jehovah my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; Lest mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.
5But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6I will sing unto Jehovah, Because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
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What is Psalms 13 about?

From the failing of faithful speech David passes to the feeling of God's delay, opening the thirteenth psalm with the fourfold cry, 'How long?' as he wonders whether the LORD has forgotten him forever. He asks God to consider and lighten his eyes lest he sleep the sleep of death and his enemy prevail, giving voice to a soul that takes counsel in sorrow all the day. Yet the brief lament turns decisively, for David declares that he has trusted in God's mercy, that his heart shall rejoice in His salvation, and that he will sing to the LORD who has dealt bountifully with him. The swift movement from complaint to confidence shows faith holding fast through delay until it breaks into song.