Psalm 13:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 13:3-5

Psalms 13:3-5. Lighten mine eyes Because I find my own counsels insufficient, do thou enlighten my mind, and guide me by thy counsel into the right way of obtaining thy merciful help. Or, he means, Do thou revive, and comfort, and deliver me from the darkness of death, which is ready to come upon me, and to close mine eyes. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him Namely, by my art or strength; which will reflect dishonour on thee, as if thou wert either unfaithful and unmindful... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 13:1-6

Psalms 11-13 Persevere . . . or give in?There came a time when David became tired of his continual flight from Saul, not just because it was wearying, but because it was cutting him off from the public worship places of God’s people (1 Samuel 26:19). His spiritual life was weakened and he gave in to the temptation to leave his own country for the safety of enemy Philistia (1 Samuel 27:1). This is the sort of temptation that David considers in Psalms 11:0, the temptation to go along with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 13:3

hear = answer. Lighten mine eyes = Revive me. sleep the sleep of death = sleep my last sleep. Hebrew Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 13:3

THE FOUR LINES OF PRAYER"Consider and answer me, O Jehovah, my God:Lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death;Lest mine enemy say; I have prevailed against him;Lest mine adversaries rejoice when I am removed."These lines tell how the distressed psalmist turned to God in prayer, the last resource and the first, of every child of God. "Take it to the Lord in prayer." Right there is the answer, the ultimate answer, the only answer to all the problems associated with our earthly... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 13:3

Psalms 13:3. Lighten mine eyes— The meaning of this phrase may perhaps be best judged of by Jonathan's speech, 1Sa 14:29 for he, being very hungry and ready to faint, dipped his rod in an honeycomb, and ate of it; and the text saith, his eyes were enlightened; i.e. he was refreshed by it. But this enlightening of the eyes may, by an easy metaphor, be applied to the political state. When in any time of affliction, expressed frequently by darkness and gloominess, a person is relieved and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 13:3

3. lighten mine eyes—dim with weakness, denoting approaching death (compare 1 Samuel 14:27-29; Psalms 6:7; Psalms 38:10). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 13:1-6

Psalms 13Like several of the preceding psalms, this one is also a prayer that the psalmist offered in the midst of affliction. David rested in confidence in the Lord even though he saw no immediate relief from his predicament, possibly illness. This individual lament psalm designed for community use begins with sobbing and ends with singing."The Psalm consists of . . . three groups of decreasing magnitude. A long deep sigh is followed, as from a relieved breast, by an already much more gentle... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 13:3-4

2. Petition for an answer 13:3-4David needed information and wisdom in view of his need. If he did not receive them from the Lord soon, he despaired of life. "Lightening the eyes" refers to refreshing one’s vital powers (cf. 1 Samuel 14:27; 1 Samuel 14:29; Ezra 9:8). If he died, his enemy, who was also the Lord’s enemy, since David was God’s representative, would conclude he had overcome him and would rejoice. The "sleep of death" may be a metaphor for deep depression and suffering. [Note:... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 13:1-6

The prominence which the Ps. gives to one enemy (Psalms 13:2) among the writer’s numerous adversaries (Psalms 13:4), suggests the circumstances of David’s persecution by Saul (1 Samuel 21-27). The Psalmist begins in agitation and despondency, and ends in tranquillity and faith.1. PBV ’How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever?’ A single question instead of the double one of AV. ’Forget for ever’ means ’continue to forget.’ The seemingly self-contradictory form of the question reflects the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 13:3

(3) Lighten.—Literally, give light to my eyes that I may not go to sleep in death, i.e., go to sleep and never wake; “sleep unto death,” as the LXX. (Comp. for the nature of the fear, Psalms 6:5; and for the form of expression, 1 Samuel 14:27; 1 Samuel 14:29.) read more

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