Psalms 13:4

_LEST MINE ENEMY SAY, I HAVE PREVAILED AGAINST HIM; AND THOSE THAT TROUBLE ME REJOICE WHEN I AM MOVED._ Lest ... those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved - namely, from my faith and steadfastness of walk with God (Luke 22:31). David pleads that the honour of God would be compromised if the enemy should prevail, and God's servant become the exulting jest of the ungodly. An effectual plea with God (Deuteronomy 32:27). Joyful confidence follows as the fruit of prayer, while he is still praying (Isaiah 65:24)....

4._Lest my enemy. _David again repeats what he had a little before said concerning the pride of his enemies, namely, how it would be a thing ill becoming the character of God were he to abandon his servant to the mockery of the ungodly. David’s enemies lay, as it were, in ambush watching the hour of his ruin, that they might deride him when they saw him fall. And as it is the peculiar office of God to repress the audacity and insolence of the wicked, as often as they glory in their wickedness, David beseeches God to deprive them of the opportunity of indulging in such boasting. It is, however, to be observed, that he had in his conscience a sufficient testimony to his own integrity, and that he trusted also in the goodness of his cause, so that it would have been unbecoming and unreasonable had he been left without succor in danger, and had he been overwhelmed by his enemies. We can, the...

Verse Psalms 13:4. _LET MINE ENEMY SAY_] Satan's ordinary method in temptation is to excite strongly to sin, to blind the understanding and inflame the passions; and when he succeeds, he triumphs by insults and reproaches. None so ready then to tell the poor soul how deeply, disgracefully, and ungratefully it has sinned! Reader, take heed. _WHEN I AM MOVED._] When moved from my steadfastness and overcome by sin. O what desolation is made by the fall of a righteous soul! Itself covered with darkness and desolation, infidels filled with scoffing, the Church clad in mourning, the Spirit of God grieved, and Jesus crucified afresh, and put to an open shame! O God, save the pious reader from such wreck and ruin!...

LEST MINE ENEMY SAY, I HAVE PREVAILED AGAINST HIM - I have overpowered him; I have conquered him. That is, to triumph over him as having obtained a complete victory. AND THOSE THAT TROUBLE ME - Hebrew, “My adversaries.” The reference here is the same as in the former member of the verse. It is to the enemies that seemed almost to have triumphed over him already, and under whose power he was ready to sink. “Rejoice.” Exult; triumph. WHEN I AM MOVED - Moved from my steadfastness or firmness; when I am overcome. Hitherto he had been able to hold out against them; now he began to despair, and to fear that they would accomplish their object by overcoming and subduing him. His ground of apprehension and of appeal was, that by his being vanquished the cause in which he was engaged would suffer, and that the enemies of religion would triumph....

EXPOSITION THE writer—again, according to the title, David—is reduced almost to utter despair. He has undergone lengthened persecution—the Divine countenance has been turned away from him (Psalms 13:1); it seems to him that God has altogether forgotten him; he is in extreme perplexity and distress (Psalms 13:2), and raises the cry—so often raised by sufferers (Job 19:2; Psalms 6:3; Psalms 35:7; Psalms 79:5;...

LEST MINE ENEMY SAY, I HAVE PREVAILED AGAINST HIM,.... Which is an argument God takes notice of; and for which reason he does not give up his people into the hands of their enemies; see Deuteronomy 32:27. The Chaldee paraphrase interprets this of the evil imagination or corruption of nature, and represents it as a person, as the Apostle Paul does in Romans 7:15; and which may be said to prevail, when it pushes on to sin, and hinders doing good, and carries captive; and it may be applied to Satan, the great enemy of God's people, who triumphs over them, when he succeeds in his temptations; [AND] THOSE THAT TROUBLE ME REJOICE WHEN I AM MOVED; meaning from his house and family, from his country and kingdom, from a prosperous state and condition to a distressed one; at which the troubl

Psalms 13:1. _How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?_ When you and I have to spread our complaints before God, we are not the first who have done so. When we complain of God's forsaking us, we are not alone. There was a greater than David who, even in the article of death, cried, «My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?» Psalms 13:3. _Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;_ When it is dark, very dark, we get drowsy. Sorrow induces sleep. Remember how the Saviour found the disciples sleeping for sorrow. Therefore David asks for light. Light will hel

Psalms 13 _ 1. How long? Answer me, Jehovah (Psalms 13:1)_ 2. The victory of faith (Psalms 13:5) Psalms 13:1. Four times “How long?” The trial of faith becomes more severe. Sorrow is in the heart and an enemy is outside. Has then Jehovah forgotten? The hearts begin to despair; an answer is demanded, it must come “lest I sleep the sleep of death.” Psalms 13:5. But here comes the change. Faith triumphs and is victorious. “I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing unto Jehovah, for He hath dealt bountifully

XIII. A PRAYER IN DISTRESS WITH CONFIDENCE OF FINAL VICTORY. Psalms 13:2. Read, How long must I bear affliction on my soul? (Psalms 13:2_ a_) and in the same verse day and night (LXX, in some codices) or by conjecture day after day. Psalms 13:5 f. confidence in coming deliverance....

A prayer, in calmer tone....