June 6 Daily Devotional

Does God Neglect Us?: A Meditation on Psalm Thirteen

Psalm 13

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Devotional

(continued)

Stand Fast

The Psalmist and all the true children of God are determined to stand fast in God's grace and saving help. Because that is their position they are wont to pray with groanings that cannot be uttered. They are confident they will stand unto the end, even though dangers beset them on every side. Surely they know that they shall yet rejoice in God. With the Apostle Paul they say, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Again they say with the same apostle, "Who shall separate ,us from the love of Christ: shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Not yet do the saints obtain the promises. It is the grace of God that makes them content to wait for the realization of them. Where steadfastness and perseverance is wanting, then is there the absence of God's grace. When the Patriarchs were endued from above they sought a country whose maker and builder is God, not taking any delight in any earthly city or habitation.

God Remembers His Own

Is it because we are able to hold on to God that we cry unto Him in our distresses? Not at all. God has revealed Himself as good and gracious, and as dealing with us not according to our deserts. God answers not on the necessity of the sinner, for all sinners are in need, yet He sends some no help. But He sends deliverance according to His own promise and faithfulness to those whom He delights to save.

It would be no cause for joy or thankfulness if God paid the sinner his due. No self-righteous man ever yet rejoiced in God. Here the Psalmist exhibits unfailing reliance upon God.

If God does not shine upon us with the light of His countenance, there is nothing but death and darkness for every sinner. The Psalmist knew this well; therefore he hoped only in what God would do for him. The Lord would yet make him glad and brighten his life.

How God delights to restore and raise up, when the world thinks it has vanquished one of His saints ! Can God abandon His servants? For their sakes He will check the bragging of all enemies.

Let only the godly be sure that they are in the way of holiness, that their cause is just and good, and have respect unto God's commandments.

"Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (I Pet. 3:13).