LEADER ATTACKING LEADER

SATURDAY, 13 JULY 2025

TEXT: PSALM 13:1–6 NIV

1: How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2: How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3: Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

4: and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5: But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6: I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

MESSAGE: Leader, Attacking Leader – Finding Hope in the Valley of Adversity

Life, even for the most devout and divinely appointed, is rarely a straight path of unbroken triumph. It often involves unexpected detours, periods of intense pressure, and sometimes, the agonizing experience of betrayal or opposition from those we least expect. Today’s devotional leads us into one such profound encounter with adversity, as we explore Psalm 13, a deeply personal and raw outpouring from the heart of King David. This psalm is a window into the soul of a leader under attack, not from a foreign adversary, but from another leader – King Saul. It’s a testament to the universal human experience of pain and doubt, even amidst divine promises, and how faith ultimately triumphs over despair.

Psalm 13 opens with a cry that resonates deeply with anyone who has felt abandoned or forgotten by God: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). This is not the voice of a casual believer; it’s the desperate plea of a man who knows God intimately, yet feels utterly forsaken. David, a man after God’s own heart, a shepherd anointed by God to be king, finds himself in a bewildering wilderness, pursued relentlessly by King Saul. The background to this psalm is crucial: King Saul, consumed by jealousy and bitterness, was actively hunting David, deploying “3000 of the best soldiers in Israel” (1 Samuel 26:2-23) in a relentless campaign to destroy him. This was not merely personal animosity; it was a rejected leader, Saul, attacking an anointed leader – David.

The emotional intensity of David’s questions in the opening verses reveals the depth of his suffering. He asks, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:2). This isn’t just physical exhaustion from being pursued; it’s a profound spiritual and emotional weariness. David is wrestling, not just with Saul, but with his own internal landscape—with crushing thoughts of despair, with persistent sorrow, and with the taunting prospect of his enemy’s victory. The repetition of “How long?” four times in the first two verses underscores the unbearable prolongation of his suffering. He felt forgotten, hidden from God’s presence, tormented by his inner anguish, and watching his adversary seemingly gain the upper hand. His distress had reached its climax, and he could no longer suppress his frustration and disappointment over what appeared to be God’s prolonged silence.

The Depth of David’s Lamentation

To truly grasp the power of Psalm 13, we must sit with David in his pain. His lamentation is not a sign of weak faith, but of honest and passionate engagement with God in the midst of extreme suffering.

1. The Feeling of Abandonment (“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”):

This is the quintessential cry of a soul in anguish. David feels not just temporarily overlooked, but forgotten forever. He perceives God’s face, usually a symbol of favor and presence, as hidden from him. This sense of divine absence is often more agonizing than physical pain. It strikes at the core of one’s relationship with God. For a man who had such a vibrant, personal walk with the Lord, this perceived silence was excruciating. It challenges the very foundation of his trust.

2. The Internal Battle (“How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”):

Adversity often brings with it an internal torment. David wasn’t just fighting Saul; he was fighting himself. His mind was a battlefield of doubts, anxieties, and perhaps even temptations to question God’s goodness or his own calling. The “sorrow in my heart” was a daily companion, a heavy burden that weighed him down. This speaks to the mental and emotional toll of prolonged suffering, where negative thoughts become relentless and joy seems impossible.

3. The Enemy’s Apparent Triumph (“How long will my enemy triumph over me?”):

Nothing is more disheartening to the righteous than to see the wicked prosper, or in David’s case, to see the one who is unjustly pursuing you appear to be succeeding. Saul was gaining ground, David was on the run, and it seemed as though the enemy was winning. This external pressure compounded David’s internal agony, making him fear public humiliation and the gloating of his foes.

4. The Fear of Death and Defeat (“Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”):

David’s plea becomes even more urgent. He recognizes that this spiritual and emotional darkness could lead to his literal demise (“sleep in death”). Furthermore, the thought of his enemies celebrating his downfall was unbearable. This fear of dishonoring God by succumbing to his enemies added another layer of desperation to his prayer. He needed God’s intervention, not just for his survival, but for God’s glory and for the vindication of His chosen servant. “Give light to my eyes” is a powerful metaphor for renewed hope, spiritual discernment, and physical vitality. Without God’s intervention, he faced spiritual and physical death, and his enemies would certainly gloat, attributing his defeat to their own power rather than God’s judgment.

The Pivotal Shift: From Lamentation to Trust

Despite the raw, unvarnished expression of his frustration and disappointment, David does not stay in the pit of despair. This is where the profound spiritual lesson of Psalm 13 truly shines. The psalm makes a pivotal shift, moving from desperate questioning to resolute faith.

But despite his frustration, David did not lose hope as he returns to God in prayer and affirmed his trust in His unfailing love. This is the turning point, the spiritual pivot. After pouring out his heart in lamentation, David makes a conscious, deliberate choice to re-anchor his soul in God’s character. He moves from “How long?” to “But I trust.” This “but” is perhaps one of the most powerful conjunctions in Scripture.

Psalm 13:5 declares: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”

Here, David remembers who God is. He shifts his gaze from his overwhelming circumstances and the oppressive weight of his feelings to the unchanging character of God. He doesn’t say, “I trust in your future love,” or “I trust in your conditional love.” He trusts in God’s unfailing love—hesed in Hebrew, a profound term signifying covenant loyalty, steadfast love, and unwavering kindness. This is a love that never quits, never fails, and never forgets.

This shift in focus from himself and his problems to God’s faithful nature immediately begins to change his internal state. His heart, which was previously burdened with “sorrow,” now “rejoices in your salvation.” He is not rejoicing because his circumstances have changed, but because he has put his trust back in God’s power to deliver him, acknowledging that God is his salvation. He remembered God’s past faithfulness and applied it to his present distress. This is the essence of true faith: trusting God’s character even when His hand is not immediately visible.

The Promise of Praise: Transforming Lamentation into Thanksgiving

The psalm culminates in an act of worship, a promise to praise. Psalm 13:6 states: “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

This final verse is a remarkable transformation. The man who began by asking “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” concludes with a vow to sing praises because the Lord “has been good to me.” This is the evidence of his re-established faith. He is not singing because his problems have vanished (Saul is still pursuing him at the time of writing this psalm); he is singing because he has chosen to remember God’s goodness, past and present, and to anticipate His future deliverance.

Thus, the psalm of lamentation effectively becomes a psalm of thanksgiving. It’s a journey from despair to hope, from questioning to trusting, from crying out to singing praise. This transformation isn’t a magical disappearance of problems, but a profound shift in perspective and an act of willful faith. David chooses to align his emotional state with the truth of God’s character, despite the agonizing reality of his situation.

This transformation is not a forced positivity but a deeply spiritual process:

• Honest Lament: He allowed himself to express his raw feelings to God. He didn’t pretend everything was fine. This is critical for healthy spiritual processing.
• Remembering God’s Character: He deliberately recalled God’s hesed – His unfailing, covenantal love.
• Shifting Focus to God’s Salvation: He recognized that God is his deliverer, his ultimate source of safety and rescue.
• Anticipatory Praise: He chose to praise God before the deliverance manifested, based on his trust in God’s character and past goodness. This is faith in action.

Lessons for the Leader Under Attack, and for Every Believer

The narrative of David and Saul, a “Leader, Attacking Leader,” offers profound insights applicable not only to those in positions of leadership but to every believer facing adversity.

1. It’s Okay to Lament Honestly to God:

David’s psalm gives us permission to be authentic with God about our pain, frustration, and disappointment. God is big enough to handle our “How long?” questions. He invites us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Suppressing true feelings can lead to bitterness and spiritual stagnation.

2. Adversity Can Come from Unexpected Places:

David was attacked by King Saul, his own leader, his father-in-law, a man he had served faithfully. Sometimes, our greatest opposition comes from within our own circles, from those who should support us. This can be more painful than external attacks. It’s a reminder to anchor our identity and security firmly in God, not in human relationships or positions.

3. The Battle for the Mind is Real:

David wrestled with his thoughts. The enemy often targets our minds with doubt, fear, and hopelessness. We must learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace lies with God’s truth. Our internal landscape greatly impacts our external resilience.

4. Faith is a Choice, Even in the Darkest Valleys:

David’s shift from lament to trust was an active choice. When circumstances are bleak and God seems silent, faith is not a feeling; it is a decision to cling to God’s character and promises. It is in these moments that our trust in His “unfailing love” is truly tested and strengthened.

5. Trust in God’s Unfailing Love is the Anchor:

The hesed of God – His steadfast, covenantal love – is the unchanging truth in a world of flux. When everything else crumbles, His love remains. Anchoring our hope in this love provides stability and assurance that He will never truly forget us or hide His face forever.

6. Anticipatory Praise Precedes Breakthrough:

David sang God’s praise before his deliverance. This is a powerful spiritual weapon. Praising God in advance, even when circumstances are challenging, is an act of faith that shifts the atmosphere and positions us to receive His breakthrough. It demonstrates confidence in His goodness, regardless of the present.

7. God’s Goodness is Constant:

David concluded by affirming, “for he has been good to me.” Even in the midst of suffering, he recognized God’s past goodness and affirmed His ongoing nature. This remembrance is crucial for maintaining hope and gratitude. God’s goodness is not contingent on our circumstances; it is an attribute of His unchanging character.

The Call to Forgive and Embrace Your Davidic Destiny

The prayer provided with this devotional, “Dear Lord, give the grace to forgive my soul so that I can be your David, in Jesus name. Amen,” carries profound weight. It connects directly to David’s experience and to our own spiritual journey.

“Give the grace to forgive my soul”: This speaks to the internal wounds we carry. When we face prolonged suffering, betrayal, or disappointment, especially when God seems silent, we can become bitter, not just towards others, but towards ourselves, or even subtly, towards God. Forgiving one’s soul implies releasing self-condemnation, self-pity, and any resentment that may have settled deep within. It’s about healing the inner man, releasing the burdens of past hurts and perceived failures. This internal forgiveness is vital because unforgiveness, even towards oneself, can become a spiritual block, hindering our ability to receive and operate in God’s grace. It keeps us tied to the past and prevents us from moving forward.

“So that I can be your David”: David, despite his flaws and tribulations, was a man after God’s own heart. He was a worshiper, a warrior, and a king who always returned to God. To be “God’s David” is to embody:

Radical Honesty with God: Like David, we can lay bare our frustrations, doubts, and fears before Him.

Unwavering Trust: Even when the facts are grim, we choose to trust in God’s unfailing love.

Transformative Praise: We learn to shift from lament to thanksgiving, from despair to worship, confident in God’s goodness and ultimate deliverance.

Resilience and Faithfulness: We endure persecution, opposition, and waiting periods, remaining faithful to God’s calling despite the attacks.

In a world where leaders are constantly attacking leaders—whether in politics, business, or even within the church—the lessons from Psalm 13 are timeless. They teach us that even in the face of deep, personal betrayal and relentless opposition, our anchor is God’s unfailing love. Our response determines our destiny. We can choose to be consumed by the “How long?” questions, or we can, like David, pivot to “But I trust” and “I will sing the Lord’s praise.”

QUESTION: Do you have an experience of the psalm of lamentation and the psalm of Thanksgiving?

This is a powerful question for personal reflection. Take a moment to consider:

• The Psalm of Lamentation: When have you felt forgotten, hidden from God, or overwhelmed by sorrow and an enemy’s triumph? Have you poured out your raw heart to God in genuine lament? It’s crucial to acknowledge those seasons and feelings, not to deny them.
• The Psalm of Thanksgiving: How did you move from that place of lament to one of thanksgiving? Was it a conscious decision to trust? A remembrance of God’s past faithfulness? An act of anticipatory praise? Recognizing this transition in your own life strengthens your faith for future battles.

Understanding this journey—from honest lament to unwavering trust and ultimately to triumphant praise—is key to navigating the challenges of life with spiritual resilience. It means embracing the fullness of the human experience while remaining anchored in the unchanging goodness of God. May your life, like David’s, be a testament to His goodness, turning every “how long” into a song of praise.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank You for the honesty of Your Word and the example of David. Forgive me for any times I have allowed frustration or disappointment to overshadow Your goodness. I pray for the grace to forgive my soul, to release any bitterness or self-condemnation, and to fully embrace the healing and freedom You offer. Help me, like David, to always return to You in trust, even when the wait is long and the battle is fierce. Equip me to be Your David, a leader and worshiper who, despite attacks, always finds reason to sing Your praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.