Our final song at church included the cheerfully repeated affirmation of God’s faithfulness: “You’ll never let me down!” I turned to find my friend on the brink of tears. “How can I sing that?” she lamented. It was true. Everything in her life was falling apart despite desperate, faithful prayer. She could easily have sung, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1).
Many of the Psalms, including Psalm 13, are full of painful laments: desperate cries and honest admissions of heartfelt sorrow. In today’s Psalm, David wrestles through agonising thoughts that sound almost like a loss of faith (v. 2)—but, in fact, they are quite the reverse. It takes faith to unburden ourselves to the Lord so honestly, and then pray, as David does, asking Him for what we need: “Look on me and answer, Lord my God” (v. 3 ). It is often only then, after unburdening our souls and calling on God to help us, that we can authentically praise Him from our hearts and rejoice in His goodness and love (v. 5-6).
If you are struggling to praise God today, unburden your heart to Him. Be honest. Ask Him for the help that only He can give. Remember His “unfailing love” (v. 5). And then, faith will rise, and you can sing with David, “He has been good to me” (v. 6).
By Debbi Fralick
REFLECT & PRAY
What has made it difficult for you to bring your praise to God recently? How might you unburden your heart to Him?
Heavenly Father, I entrust my weary, troubled heart to You. Please help me feel Your presence today and put a song of praise in my mouth.
For further reflection read Finding Hope in the Psalms at odb.org/resources
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The lament psalm is a prominent type in the Hebrew psalter. In such a psalm, the singer pours out the pain of his heart to God with a candour that’s sometimes alarming. Psalm 13 is a perfect example of a lament, as it carries what Old Testament scholar Dr. David Lamb says are its five basic components. First is the invocation, where the singer addresses God Himself (v. 1, “Lord”). This is followed by the complaint (vv. 1–2, “How long?”), then the request for help ( vv. 3–4, “Look on me and answer”). All these components would be expected in a lament, but a proper lament psalm contains two more vital elements—a declaration of trust (v. 5, “I trust in your unfailing love”) that’s resolved in a call to worship (v. 6, “I will sing”). Lament drives us to trust in God and anticipates a time when the sting of pain is replaced with praise.
Bill Crowder
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