Deep Dive into Commentary on the Book of Psalms by John Calvin - Psalm 13
The subject matter details David’s profound spiritual exercise as he moves from overwhelming affliction and despair to an assured hope grounded in divine promise. David’s initial state is marked by disquietude, stemming from sorrow that returns daily and a multitude of tormenting thoughts, as he fruitlessly deliberates on methods of obtaining relief. This internal turmoil is compounded by the external reality that his enemies triumph boldly over him, leading David to the desperate feeling that God has forgotten him and hidden His face.
In his petition to Jehovah his God, David seeks the "light of life." His request to "enlighten mine eyes" is a Hebrew idiom meaning to give the breath of life and restore vigor, lest he "sleep in death," which is used metaphorically for death. This plea is urgent, as he argues that his continued suffering allows his adversaries to wickedly triumph over God himself, whose peculiar office it is to repress the insolence and audacity of the wicked.
David overcomes these powerful temptations toward despair by employing the resources of faith, which wrestles against the judgment of the flesh. Faith allows his mind to apprehend God’s invisible providence and penetrate the darkness to see hidden grace, securing his welfare in God’s hand contrary to his physical feelings. It assures him that his prayers will be effectual.
His resolution to persevere is based entirely on his trust in God’s unwavering goodness and the hope of salvation. God promises the faithful not a reward, but benefits bestowed from pure grace, as the Hebrew word gamal signifies. David affirms that his deliverance flows entirely from this divine goodness. By extending his view into the future and achieving a cheerfulness of faith, David pledges pre-emptive praise, thus placing the future deliverance immediately before his eyes before it is physically realized.
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