Job: Will You Forget Me Forever?

Psalm 13

In our study of Job, we have considered his character, suffering, and restoration. We circled back to address questions like “Where did evil come from?” and “Why does God allow suffering?” We have stressed the importance of being spiritually grounded because, let’s face it, much of life takes place in a storm, coming out of a storm, or getting ready to enter a storm. During the next few days, let’s consider what it looks like and feels like to talk to God in the storm.

During his suffering, Job had significant interactions with God. There were astonishing moments of faith when Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). In severe emotional and physical pain, Job proclaimed, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15). On many occasions, Job expressed frustration and demanded that God answer his questions. At one point, Job said, “Surely now God has worn me out . . . and he has shriveled me up…” (Job 16:7-8).

So, here’s my question: How do you pray in times of suffering? How do you talk to God when you feel he has abandoned you? How do you speak to God when, quite honestly, you don’t feel like he cares? Has he even noticed your situation?

Job teaches us that we can express real and raw feelings to God. We learn the same from the Psalms, Israel’s prayer and worship book. Today, let’s draw principles from Psalm 13.

This psalm does not give us any specific context. We know that David is in a tough spot. He feels alone, forsaken, and forgotten. Have you ever been there? Here’s how David expresses his heart. Remember, this is not the prayer of a brand-new or immature believer. God describes David as a man after his own heart (1 Sam. 13:14).

Psalm 13:1-2
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Four times, David cries out, “How long?” God, how long will you leave me in this situation? Where are you? What are you doing? This question is often posed in the psalms (see Ps. 6:2-3; 35:17; 82:2; 119:84). David begins with a general question that lingers in the air before becoming more specific.

How long…will you forget me forever?

David knows his theology. He understands that God is a personal God and frequently experiences Yahweh’s presence. In Psalm 23, the psalmist describes God as a shepherd who never leaves him. However, today, David feels differently. We have all faced such moments; some days we sense God’s presence, while other days he seems absent.

How long will you hide your face from me?
David felt that God was refusing to look at him and acknowledge his hurt and pain. Have you been there?

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
Who can’t relate to that? You find yourself in a challenging situation, counseling yourself on what you should or shouldn’t do to remedy it. Yet, at the end of the day, nothing changes, or the situation worsens. The sorrow remains.

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Enemies appear in various forms and ways: illness, relationship challenges, emotional issues, struggles with children, and difficulties at work. We feel as if these factors will weigh us down and defeat us.

I don’t want to miss this point. This is David praying. He is a man after God’s own heart. He doesn’t say—“Well, this is how I am feeling, but I would never share this with anyone. I never want anyone to know about my challenges. God forbid that I would put my thoughts into writing.” These are genuine issues and real talk from a seasoned saint. This is telling God what’s on your heart. This is prayer!

Now, without apology, David expresses his request.

Psalm 13:3-4
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

David confidently asks for rescue. “Light up my eyes” was David’s way of asking for God’s perspective and wisdom. That should be our prayer as well. God, what do I need to see? What am I missing? What do I need to learn? David expresses a straightforward and specific request. He insists, God, if you don’t intervene soon, I am done. And since I serve you, my defeat will be your defeat. That’s bold! The psalmist believes in eternal life, but David also understands that life on earth matters. He needs God to work so others can see the Almighty’s love and power. Now, let’s be careful here. This doesn’t mean we are demanding healing; we are still praying according to God’s will and requesting God to demonstrate his power in our suffering. Others are watching. We want to show the peace and strength that God provides, even in the storm.

David’s prayer starts with heartfelt questions—"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” Then it moves to a bold request—"Consider and answer me, O LORD my God….” And now David surrenders in trust.

Psalm 13:5-6
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

In contrast to his circumstances and feelings, David confesses that he will continue to trust God’s “steadfast love.” Steadfast love is the translation of the Hebrew word hesed, which appears approximately 250 times in the Old Testament. It expresses God’s deep love for his children, encompassing loyalty and faithfulness. It involves acts of grace, mercy, and compassion. Hesed does not fluctuate with emotions; it represents a love of covenant and commitment between God and his children.

I see two important takeaways from this psalm. First, at the end of the day, we trust God. We approach him with questions, doubts, discouragement, and perplexity. We don’t hold back. We express to God what is on our hearts, just like Job did, just like David did. Yet…there is a moment when we take a deep breath and say, “But I have trusted in your steadfast love,” and I will continue to cling to your hesed.

Second, prayer is talking to God, pure and simple. Drop the platitudes, the “thees” and “thous,” the “Christianese.” Tell God what’s on your heart. In his book The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer states that we need real, raw, and ongoing conversation with God. Here’s what he says:

The whole transaction of religious conversation has been made mechanical and spiritless. . .We have almost forgotten that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the full possibilities…can be explored.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Psalm 13. Observe the flow from questions to requests to trust.

Talking to God
Ask God to help you move your conversations with him from a “mechanical and spiritless” manner. He wants to hear what is really on your heart.

Job Zoom Call
On Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm, we will meet on a Zoom call to review what we have learned in Job and answer questions. Information and link to join the call will be included in the May 5 devotion email.

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