Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death, Consider me and respondThe phrase "Consider me and respond" is a heartfelt plea from David, the psalmist, for God's attention and intervention. The Hebrew word for "consider" is "נָבַט" (nabat), which means to look intently or to regard with care. This reflects David's deep desire for God to not only see his plight but to actively engage with him. In the historical context, David often found himself in dire situations, pursued by enemies and feeling abandoned. His call for God to "respond" underscores his faith that God is not a distant deity but a personal God who hears and answers prayers. This plea is a reminder of the intimate relationship believers are invited to have with God, where they can confidently seek His attention and expect His response. O LORD my God Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 13, David is expressing a deep sense of distress and seeking God's intervention. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant name of God, whom David is addressing in his plea for help and enlightenment. 3. The Psalmist's Distress The event or situation prompting this psalm is one of personal anguish and a feeling of abandonment by God. Teaching Points Seeking God's AttentionDavid's plea for God to "consider" and "respond" highlights the importance of seeking God's attention and intervention in our lives. Divine Illumination "Give light to my eyes" signifies a request for understanding, guidance, and hope. In times of darkness, we should seek God's light to guide us. The Reality of Spiritual Despair The phrase "lest I sleep in death" underscores the severity of David's despair, reminding us that spiritual desolation can feel like death, but God's presence brings life. Persistent Prayer David's earnest prayer teaches us the value of persistence in prayer, even when God seems distant. Trust in God's Timing While David urgently seeks God's response, he ultimately trusts in God's perfect timing and wisdom. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's approach to God in Psalm 13:3 reflect his relationship with the LORD, and how can we apply this in our own prayer life?2. In what ways can we seek "light" from God in our current situations, and how does this relate to the concept of spiritual enlightenment found in Ephesians 1:18? 3. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually desolate. How did you seek God's presence, and what was the outcome? 4. How does the theme of divine illumination in Psalm 13:3 connect with other instances in the Bible where God provides guidance and understanding? 5. What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are persistent in prayer, especially during times of distress, as demonstrated by David in this psalm? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 30:6David's distress when his men spoke of stoning him, yet he found strength in the LORD, illustrating his reliance on God in times of trouble. Psalm 18:28 Another instance where David speaks of God lighting his lamp, symbolizing divine guidance and deliverance. Ephesians 1:18 Paul prays for the eyes of believers' hearts to be enlightened, echoing the theme of divine illumination and understanding.
People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Attentively, Behold, Consider, Death, Enlighten, Lest, Lighten, O, Overtake, Shining, Sleep, VoiceDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 13:3Library Thirsting for God'My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.'--PSALM xiii. 2. This whole psalm reads like the sob of a wounded heart. The writer of it is shut out from the Temple of his God, from the holy soil of his native land. One can see him sitting solitary yonder in the lonely wilderness (for the geographical details that occur in one part of the psalm point to his situation as being on the other side of the Jordan, in the mountains of Moab)--can see him sitting there with long wistful gaze yearning across … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Of Seeking Divine Help, and the Confidence of Obtaining Grace How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance. Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers. Elucidations. Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500 Psalms Links Psalm 13:3 NIVPsalm 13:3 NLT Psalm 13:3 ESV Psalm 13:3 NASB Psalm 13:3 KJV Psalm 13:3 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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