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Psalms 13:4 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 Lest mine enemy H341 say, H559 I have prevailed H3201 against him; and those that trouble H6862 me rejoice H1523 when I am moved. H4131

Cross Reference

Psalms 25:2 STRONG

O my God, H430 I trust H982 in thee: let me not be ashamed, H954 let not mine enemies H341 triumph H5970 over me.

Psalms 38:16 STRONG

For I said, H559 Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice H8055 over me: when my foot H7272 slippeth, H4131 they magnify H1431 themselves against me.

Jeremiah 1:19 STRONG

And they shall fight H3898 against thee; but they shall not prevail H3201 against thee; for I am with thee, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 to deliver H5337 thee.

Joshua 7:9 STRONG

For the Canaanites H3669 and all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 shall hear H8085 of it, and shall environ us round, H5437 and cut off H3772 our name H8034 from the earth: H776 and what wilt thou do H6213 unto thy great H1419 name? H8034

Psalms 9:19 STRONG

Arise, H6965 O LORD; H3068 let not man H582 prevail: H5810 let the heathen H1471 be judged H8199 in thy sight. H6440

Psalms 10:11 STRONG

He hath said H559 in his heart, H3820 God H410 hath forgotten: H7911 he hideth H5641 his face; H6440 he will never H5331 see H7200 it.

Psalms 35:19 STRONG

Let not them that are mine enemies H341 wrongfully H8267 rejoice H8055 over me: neither let them wink H7169 with the eye H5869 that hate H8130 me without a cause. H2600

Psalms 35:25 STRONG

Let them not say H559 in their hearts, H3820 Ah, H1889 so would we have it: H5315 let them not say, H559 We have swallowed him up. H1104

Psalms 55:22 STRONG

Cast H7993 thy burden H3053 upon the LORD, H3068 and he shall sustain H3557 thee: he shall never H5769 suffer H5414 the righteous H6662 to be moved. H4131

Psalms 62:2 STRONG

He only is my rock H6697 and my salvation; H3444 he is my defence; H4869 I shall not be greatly H7227 moved. H4131

Psalms 62:6 STRONG

He only is my rock H6697 and my salvation: H3444 he is my defence; H4869 I shall not be moved. H4131

Psalms 112:6 STRONG

Surely he shall not be moved H4131 for ever: H5769 the righteous H6662 shall be in everlasting H5769 remembrance. H2143

Psalms 121:1-3 STRONG

[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 I will lift up H5375 mine eyes H5869 unto the hills, H2022 from whence H370 cometh H935 my help. H5828 My help H5828 cometh from the LORD, H3068 which made H6213 heaven H8064 and earth. H776 He will not suffer H5414 thy foot H7272 to be moved: H4132 he that keepeth H8104 thee will not slumber. H5123

Proverbs 12:3 STRONG

A man H120 shall not be established H3559 by wickedness: H7562 but the root H8328 of the righteous H6662 shall not be moved. H4131

Lamentations 1:16 STRONG

For these things I weep; H1058 mine eye, H5869 mine eye H5869 runneth down H3381 with water, H4325 because the comforter H5162 that should relieve H7725 my soul H5315 is far H7368 from me: my children H1121 are desolate, H8074 because the enemy H341 prevailed. H1396

Ezekiel 35:12-15 STRONG

And thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD, H3068 and that I have heard H8085 all thy blasphemies H5007 which thou hast spoken H559 against the mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 They are laid desolate, H8074 H8077 they are given H5414 us to consume. H402 Thus with your mouth H6310 ye have boasted H1431 against me, and have multiplied H6280 your words H1697 against me: I have heard H8085 them. Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 When the whole earth H776 rejoiceth, H8055 I will make H6213 thee desolate. H8077 As thou didst rejoice H8057 at the inheritance H5159 of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 because it was desolate, H8074 so will I do H6213 unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, H8077 O mount H2022 Seir, H8165 and all Idumea, H123 even all of it: and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 13

Commentary on Psalms 13 Matthew Henry Commentary


Psalm 13

This psalm is the deserted soul's case and cure. Whether it was penned upon any particular occasion does not appear, but in general,

  • I. David sadly complains that God had long withdrawn from him and delayed to relieve him (v. 1, 2).
  • II. He earnestly prays to God to consider his case and comfort him (v. 3, 4).
  • III. He assures himself of an answer of peace, and therefore concludes the psalm with joy and triumph, because he concludes his deliverance to be as good as wrought (v. 5, 6).

To the chief musician. A psalm of David.

Psa 13:1-6

David, in affliction, is here pouring out his soul before God; his address is short, but the method is very observable, and of use for direction and encouragement.

  • I. His troubles extort complaints (v. 1, 2); and the afflicted have liberty to pour out their complaint before the Lord, Ps. 102 title. It is some ease to a troubled spirit to give vent to its griefs, especially to give vent to them at the throne of grace, where we are sure to find one who is afflicted in the afflictions of his people and is troubled with the feeling of their infirmities; thither we have boldness of access by faith, and there we have parreµsia-freedom of speech. Observe here,
    • 1. What David complains of.
      • (1.) God's unkindness; so he construed it, and it was his infirmity. He thought God had forgotten him, had forgotten his promises to him, his covenant with him, his former lovingkindness which he had shown him and which he took to be an earnest of further mercy, had forgotten that there was such a man in the world, who needed and expected relief and succour from him. Thus Zion said, My God has forgotten me (Isa. 49:14), Israel said, My way is hidden from the Lord, Isa. 40:27. Not that any good man can doubt the omniscience, goodness, and faithfulness of God; but it is a peevish expression of prevailing fear, which yet, when it arises from a high esteem and earnest desire of God's favour, though it be indecent and culpable, shall be passed by and pardoned, for the second thought will retract it and repent of it. God hid his face from him, so that he wanted that inward comfort in God which he used to have, and herein was a type of Christ upon the cross, crying out, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? God sometimes hides his face from his own children, and leaves them in the dark concerning their interest in him; and this they lay to heart more than any outward trouble whatsoever.
      • (2.) His own uneasiness.
        • [1.] He was racked with care, which filled his head: I take counsel in my soul; "I am at a loss, and am inops consilii-without a friend to advise with that I can put any confidence in, and therefore am myself continually projecting what to do to help myself; but none of my projects are likely to take effect, so that I am at my wits' end, and in a continual agitation.' Anxious cares are heavy burdens with which good people often load themselves more than they need.
        • [2.] He was overwhelmed with sorrow, which filled his heart: I have sorrow in my heart daily. He had a constant disposition to sorrow and it preyed upon his spirits, not only in the night, when he was silent and solitary, but by day too, when lighter griefs are diverted and dissipated by conversation and business; nay, every day brought with it fresh occasions of grief; the clouds returned after the rain. The bread of sorrow is sometimes the saint's daily bread. Our Master himself was a man of sorrows.
      • (3.) His enemies' insolence, which added to his grief. Saul his great enemy, and others under him, were exalted over him, triumphed in his distress, pleased themselves with his grief, and promised themselves a complete victory over him. This he complained of as reflecting dishonour upon God, and his power and promise.
    • 2. How he expostulates with God hereupon: "How long shall it be thus?' And, "Shall it be thus for ever?' Long afflictions try our patience and often tire it. It is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think it will last always; despondency then turns into despair, and those that have long been without joy begin, at last, to be without hope. "Lord, tell me how long thou wilt hide thy face, and assure me that it shall not be for ever, but that thou wilt return at length in mercy to me, and then I shall the more easily bear my present troubles.'
  • II. His complaints stir up his prayers, v. 3, 4. We should never allow ourselves to make any complaints but what are fit to be offered up to God and what drive us to our knees. Observe here,
    • 1. What his petitions are: Consider my case, hear my complaints, and enlighten my eyes, that is,
      • (1.) "Strengthen my faith;' for faith is the eye of the soul, with which it sees above, and sees through, the things of sense. "Lord, enable me to look beyond my present troubles and to foresee a happy issue of them.'
      • (2.) "Guide my way; enable me to look about me, that I may avoid the snares which are laid for me.'
      • (3.) "Refresh my soul with the joy of thy salvation.' That which revives the drooping spirits is said to enlighten the eyes, 1 Sa. 14:27; Ezra 9:8. "Lord, scatter the cloud of melancholy which darkens my eyes, and let my countenance be made pleasant.'
    • 2. What his pleas are. He mentions his relation to God and interest in him (O Lord my God!) and insists upon the greatness of the peril, which called for speedy relief and succour. If his eyes were not enlightened quickly,
      • (1.) He concludes that he must perish: "I shall sleep the sleep of death; I cannot live under the weight of all this care and grief.' Nothing is more killing to a soul then the want of God's favour, nothing more reviving than the return of it.
      • (2.) That then his enemies would triumph: "Lest my enemy say, So would I have it; lest Saul, lest Satan, be gratified in my fall.' It would gratify the pride of his enemy: He will say, "I have prevailed, I have gotten the day, and been too hard for him and his God.' It would gratify the malice of his enemies: They will rejoice when I am moved. And will it be for God's honour to suffer them thus to trample upon all that is sacred both in heaven and earth?
  • III. His prayers are soon turned into praises (v. 5, 6): But my heart shall rejoice and I will sing to the Lord. What a surprising change is here in a few lines! In the beginning of the psalm we have him drooping, trembling, and ready to sink into melancholy and despair; but, in the close of it, rejoicing in God, and elevated and enlarged in his praises. See the power of faith, the power of prayer, and how good it is to draw near to God. If we bring our cares and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them there, we may go away like Hannah, and our countenance will be no more sad, 1 Sa. 1:18. And here observe the method of his comfort.
    • 1. God's mercy is the support of his faith. "My case is bad enough, and I am ready to think it deplorable, till I consider the infinite goodness of God; but, finding I have that to trust to, I am comforted, though I have no merit of my own. In former distresses I have trusted in the mercy of God, and I never found that it failed me; his mercy has in due time relieved me and my confidence in it has in the mean time supported me. Even in the depth of this distress, when God hid his face from me, when without were fightings and within were fears, yet I trusted in the mercy of God and that was as an anchor in a storm, by the help of which, though I was tossed, I was not overset.' And still I do trust in thy mercy; so some read it. "I refer myself to that, with an assurance that it will do well for me at last.' This he pleads with God, knowing what pleasure he takes in those that hope in his mercy, Ps. 147:11.
    • 2. His faith in God's mercy filled his heart with joy in his salvation; for joy and peace come by believing, Rom. 15:13. Believing, you rejoice, 1 Pt. 1:8. Having put his trust in the mercy of God, he is fully assured of salvation, and that his heart, which was now daily grieving, should rejoice in that salvation. Though weeping endure long, joy will return.
    • 3. His joy in God's salvation would fill his mouth with songs of praise (v. 6): "I will sing unto the Lord, sing in remembrance of what he has done formerly; though I should never recover the peace I have had, I will die blessing God that ever I had it. He has dealt bountifully with me formerly, and he shall have the glory of that, however he is pleased to deal with me now. I will sing in hope of what he will do for me at last, being confident that all will end well, will end everlastingly well.' But he speaks of it as a thing past (He has dealt bountifully with me), because by faith he had received the earnest of the salvation and he was as confident of it as if it had been done already.

In singing this psalm and praying it over, if we have not the same complaints to make that David had, we must thank God that we have not, dread and deprecate his withdrawings, sympathize with those that are troubled in mind, and encourage ourselves in our most holy faith and joy.