Bible Reading : Psalms 13 and 14

Psalms 13

A Plea for Deliverance

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, how long will You continually forget me?

How long will You hide Your face from me?  

2 How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, 

agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?  

3 Consider me and answer, Lord, my God.

Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, 

I will sleep in death,

4 my enemy will say, "I have triumphed over him,"

and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.  

5 But I have trusted in Your faithful love; 

my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. 

6 I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.

    

     David Most likely wrote this Psalm Right after Saul first attempted to kill him and he was forced to flee for his life.  I love that David sings God's praises at the end not because God has answered his prayers, but because David believes that God will answer his prayers.

Psalms 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Davidic.

1 The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." 

They are corrupt; their actions are revolting. 

There is no one who does good.  

2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, 

one who seeks God.  

3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt.

There is no one who does good, not even one. 

4 Will evildoers never understand? 

They consume my people as they consume bread;

they do not call on the Lord. 

5 Then they will be filled with terror,

for God is with those who are righteous.  

6 You [sinners] frustrate the plans of the afflicted,

but the Lord is his refuge.  

7 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion!

When the Lord restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

     David wrote this Psalm after hearing of the death of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. Nabal was a foolish man who treated David badly after David and his men had shown his servants aid and kindness. It was only the Quick actions of Nabals wife Abigail that prevented David from Killing Nabal and all his men in response. David was so impressed with her that after Nabal's death he asked her to be his wife.