Psalms 13:4

4 lest any time mine enemy say, I had the mastery against him. They, that trouble me, shall have joy, if I shall be stirred; (lest any time my enemy say, I had the mastery over him. For they, who trouble me, shall have joy, if I shall slip, or shall stumble/if I shall fall;)

Psalms 13:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 13:4

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him
Which is an argument God takes notice of; and for which reason he does not give up his people into the hands of their enemies; see ( Deuteronomy 32:27 ) . The Chaldee paraphrase interprets this of the evil imagination or corruption of nature, and represents it as a person, as the Apostle Paul does in ( Romans 7:15-21 ) ; and which may be said to prevail, when it pushes on to sin, and hinders doing good, and carries captive; and it may be applied to Satan, the great enemy of God's people, who triumphs over them, when he succeeds in his temptations;

[and] those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved;
meaning from his house and family, from his country and kingdom, from a prosperous state and condition to a distressed one; at which the troublers of David's peace would rejoice. They that trouble the saints are sin, Satan, and the world; and the two last rejoice when they are in an uncomfortable and afflicted condition; and especially Satan rejoices when he gains his point, if it is but to move them from any degree of steadfastness, of faith and hope, or from the ways of God in any respect: the Targum adds, "from thy ways"; for to be moved so as to perish eternally they cannot, being built upon the Rock of ages, and surrounded by the power and grace of God.

Psalms 13:4 In-Context

2 How long shall I set counsel in my soul; sorrow in my heart by day? How long shall mine enemy be raised up on me? (How long shall I suffer anguish in my soul; and each day have sorrow in my heart? How long shall my enemy be raised up over me?)
3 My Lord God, behold thou, and hear thou me. Lighten thou mine eyes, lest any time I sleep in death; (My Lord God, behold thou, and answer thou me. Give thou light to my eyes, lest any time I sleep in death;)
4 lest any time mine enemy say, I had the mastery against him. They, that trouble me, shall have joy, if I shall be stirred; (lest any time my enemy say, I had the mastery over him. For they, who trouble me, shall have joy, if I shall slip, or shall stumble/if I shall fall;)
5 but I hoped in thy mercy. Mine heart shall fully have joy in thine health; (but I trusted in thy love. My heart shall make full out joy in thy salvation/My heart shall rejoice in thy deliverance;)
6 I shall sing to the Lord, that giveth goods to me, and I shall say psalm to the name of the highest Lord. (I shall sing to the Lord, who giveth good things to me, yea, I shall sing a song to the name of the Most High Lord.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.