Job 13
Psalm 13 is a short psalm consisting of six verses, but it can be divided into three major parts. The first part (verses 1–2) contains the psalmist’s deep despair and his cry out to God. He feels as though God has forgotten him, and he pours out his anguish amid an anxious heart and the pressure of his enemies. The second part (verses 3–4) continues with the psalmist’s earnest plea. He asks God to consider his suffering and to prevent the enemies from prevailing. In the final part (verses 5–6), surprisingly, it ends with a confession of gratitude and praise. The psalmist ultimately trusts God, is sure of deliverance, and moves forward with hymns of praise.
1verse“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2verseWhat you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3verse“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4verseBut you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5verseOh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6verseHear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7verseWill you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8verseWill you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9verseIs it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10verseHe will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11verseWon’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
12verseYour memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13verse“Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14verseWhy should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15verseBehold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16verseThis also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
17verseListen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18verseSee now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19verseWho is he who will contend with me? For then I would hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20verse“Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
21versewithdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
22verseThen call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
23verseHow many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24verseWhy do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
25verseWill you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26verseFor you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27verseYou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28versethough I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Overall Meaning
This psalm shows that even in the midst of a person’s deep pain and despair, they can honestly express their feelings to God. At the same time, it also shows that even in such hardship, they can continue to trust God, hope in God’s guidance as time passes, and move forward with gratitude. The structure that begins in despair and ends in hope and praise captures well the various emotions and changes in faith that we experience along the journey of faith.
Points for Reflection
- Even in my own life, I may sometimes feel as though God is far away—take time to think about how I handle and process those feelings.
- In the turning point where the psalmist moves from despair back to trust in God and then toward praise, think about what plays an important role.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When I face difficulties, I take a moment to reflect on whether I am expressing my heart honestly to God, just like Psalm 13.
- Through the psalmist’s example of finally moving forward in trust and praise, I learn an attitude of being able to give thanks and praise to God even amid problems, both big and small.
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