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The "salute" of this Psalm is a sigh, the "adieu" is a song. We sight the Psalmist prostrate before the mercy throne, wrapped in grim shadows of gloom, bowed in soul by the weight of a great sorrow, and howling "How long?" We leave him sitting in the stillness of a new confidence, enwreathed with sunbeams of gladness, pealing forth from harp and lip an exultant Te Deum!

I. EARLIEST INQUIRY (vers. 1, 2). A fourfold inquiry. Can God forget? He hides His face, not willingly, but of necessity, that we may seek His face. And the longer, that we may seek it the more earnestly.

II. DEVOUT AND FERVENT ENTREATY (vers. 3, 4). Trouble gives point, pathos, and power to prayer. Genuine entreaty comes from a soul that has —

1. A clear recognition of its personal relationship to God.

2. It is definite in request. It knows what it wants, and asks for it. Entreaty has aim, directness, special need; hence is definite in request — e.g., Jacob, Jabez, etc. Here it seeks the Divine attention. The Divine illumination.

3. Genuine entreaty has powerful reasons for what it requests. "Lest I sleep," etc. This is from the self-side. "Lest mine enemy say," etc. This is from the God-side. Prevailing against him would be injurious to the truth.

III. ENTREATY RISING INTO TRIUMPHANT ASSURANCE AND PRAISE. Here we have trustfulness —

1. Well located;

2. Triumphant;

3. Exultant.

(J. O. Keen, D. D.)

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KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

WEB: How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?