Skip to main content

Why I Wish I Had Written Psalm 13

If I'm being honest, there are times I wish I could have written Psalm 13. Check out the boldness with which it starts. 

"O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?" ~Psalm 13:1

If we're thinking through what it takes to write these words down, we realize it comes with a lot of courage...or maybe stupidity. Listen, if this guy believes God exists, he has to believe that God is bigger and more powerful than us humans.* 

Even if you think God has forgotten you, I'm not sure calling Him out in this way is what you want to do. 

via GIPHY

 Especially if your argument for favor from God is going to be based on your good behavior, is that really the kind of attention you want? God knows all. God sees all. It seems like a risk to get God's attention just because you feel life is treating you unfairly at the moment. 

"How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?" ~Psalm 13:2

It may not surprise you to know this Psalm is by David, a guy I'm not sure we'd readily accept in many of our churches. Let's be real, David is probably closer to what we've seen on People of Walmart than anything allowed on a mega-church stage. * ~I'm not advocating everything you see at People of Walmart. It may not be praiseworthy, but it is real. Way. Too. Real. 

"Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die." ~Psalm 13:3

Maybe it's because the idea of talking to God this way smacks of disrespect. Or perhaps it's because I know the 'right' answers. You know, God loves me. God will never leave me in moments of need. God is a refuge in times of trouble.

It's not that the 'right' answers aren't right. It's that I know the answers with my mind, but too often lose the sparkle to my eyes. That's an interesting phrase for a man of war, but it speaks to what excited David. He understood better than many of us that without a heartfelt relationship with God, his spirit would die. 

We all want the conclusion David came to, of course. "I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me." ~Psalm 13:5-6

But are we willing to boldly bare our souls and tell God what we're really thinking? Or will we fear looking too desperate? Too broken? Too needy? 

Perhaps too honest? 


*We can leave the question of God's goodness aside here, though I believe the author would agree with that as well.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Studies on the Go...Genesis

To be honest, I had not heard of Studies On The Go before being offered a review copy by my god friends at Youth Worker. But since I’m always looking out for study ideas, I said yes to this opportunity. Studies On The Go by Laurie Polich-Short has 30 studies. This particular edition is on the book of Genesis. Any book of the Bible can be daunting when you’re trying to interest and impact teenagers. But Genesis increases that difficulty due to the many questions that arise on the topic of creation. On top of that, you have the many stories of questionable characters that we often call heroes of the faith. Each study comes with great questions, not mindless Sunday School questions where every answer is Jesus. They also come with an optional activity to take the lesson a step further and create true impact. Add to that a weekly plan for students to go deeper and you have a winner of a study in one little book. If all the book studies are as well done as this one, I’d ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Are You Capable Of?

I fancy myself to be just like Batman...without the money, the cave, the vendetta, the car and the cool belt. Other than that, we're pretty much the same guy. Does it help my case that I have a boy wonder? It's my son, but I'd take him over a dude in green tights any day. I've also imagined myself to be similar to Superman...you know, but without the super strength, speed, or that thing he can do with his eyes. Oh, and I'm also not from another planet. But he was a reporter and I like to write, though that hasn't been proven much by my blog. At least, not compared to what I used to write. The first time I write this post, it sounded like an apology. But that's not really the message I want to convey. Yes, I wish I were posting more. I also wish I had super strength or a cool utility belt, but those things aren't happening right now either. Maybe some day . The truth is I have been keeping busy. I'm not sitting back, sipping lemonade. I've never c...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Facebook Maybe

Granted, I'm a pastor. I have Type-A tendencies. Ok, my tendencies border on freakish OCD behavior patterns, but... Few things bother me more than the Facebook 'maybe'. I suppose I could go on and on about the grey areas of our society and the refusal of people to accept absolute standards. I could discuss the great need of people to accept that what is wrong for one person is likely wrong for everyone. I should certainly be concerned about mentioning that someone might have sin in their life. But I don't believe the Facebook 'maybe' is quite sin. Perhaps if I were coming up with new sins, I would add this to the list. But alas... Some might think the Facebook 'maybe' did not exist prior to the Internet, but they would be wrong. When I was in high school and asked a girl out on a date, I would normally be told that if they had no other plans, if nobody else called them, if there was nothing good on television and their hair did not need washing, then per...
5 comments
Read more