Men and women in despair are not the only ones who have asked “How long?”  God has felt despair regarding people.  He has often asked “How long?” (see Numbers 14:11,27; 1 Samuel 16:1; Psalm 4:2; Jeremiah 23:26;31:22; 47:5; Hosea 8:5).  Jesus, while a man, also asked “How long?” (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41). 
In itself, then, this is not a bad question.  It can be asked properly.  When we do ask it properly (which includes the proper,  humble attitude and a desire to accept the answer that is given), we can be sure that the question is heard and accepted by God (Job 7:19; Psalm 6:3; 35:17; 74:10; 80:4; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3,4; Isaiah 6:11; Jeremiah 12:4; 47:6; Daniel 12:6; Habakkuk 1:2; Revelation 6:10).  I am confident that the “How long? Times Four” of this Psalm is properly asked. Let us  now see how the poet developed his theme.
“How long, O LORD?  
Will You forget me forever? 
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, 
Having sorrow in my heart daily? 
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”
(vv. 1,2).
In these two verses, David asked “How long?” four times.  There is a progression of possible despair and discouragement in the four questions.  The first one is about being forgotten.  The second one is about having God turn His face away.  The third one is about possibly having to deal with the problem alone.  The fourth one is about the fact that the enemy is very aware and involved in the present difficulty.
When we get in despair over something, it often progresses quickly. The “How long? Times Four” we have just noted is a clear example of this.  David, as we, often faced such circumstances (especially early in his life when Saul was so frequently the enemy).  But David regularly followed the pattern of turning to Jehovah for the solution.
In the remainder of the Psalm, he did exactly that by making four points:
The request (v. 3)
The reason (v. 4)
The resolve (v. 5)
The result (v. 6).
“Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; 
Enlighten my eyes, 
Lest I sleep the sleep of death” (v. 3).
This is the request that David brought to God.  His desire is that God will “consider” (pay close attention to).  His present circumstances were really bothering him, and he needed help.  Jeremiah used the same word in the midst of the despair over Jerusalem’s fall about 400 years later (Lamentations 1:11; 2:20; 5:1).  His request also had the element of needing to be heard.  Often, just finding someone to listen is enough, isn’t it?  He believed that if God would consider and hear, He would be able to “lighten” his eyes (enlighten; that is, provide answers), and avoid the sleep of death (that is, he would somehow be rescued from this difficulty.
“Lest my enemy say,
 "I have prevailed against him"; 
Lest those who trouble me rejoice 
When I am moved” (v. 4).
This is the reason for the request of verse 3.  David did not want his enemy to be able to even say that he had prevailed over David—much less to actually do it!  It is still difficult to comprehend how depraved the enemies of the righteous can be.  After relentlessly attacking, they will actually rejoice if they think they have succeeded (“rejoice when I am moved”).  Tragically, sometimes the faithful stop looking to God in these difficulties, and the enemy does succeed in leading good people back to sin.
“But I have trusted in Your mercy; 
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (v. 5).
In verse 5, David made known his resolve to do two things.  First, He had been trusting in God’s mercy, and no doubt intended to continue doing that.  Trust, in this verse, means that he placed his hope and confidence in Jehovah his God.  Mercy, in this verse, refers to grace and favor, such as “the sure mercies of David”—God’s kindness toward us.  Second, David intended to rejoice in the salvation (deliverance) God was able to provide.
“I will sing to the LORD, 
Because He has dealt bountifully with me” 
(v. 6).
In this final verse of the Psalm, David presented the result of the whole matter.  In the past, present, and future, David believed in the bountiful way God handled the difficulties of the faithful.  “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee”  (Psalm 116:7).  Such acknowledgement of God’s tender care has always led to “singing” on the part of those who are delivered.
Let us learn from this brief, but potent Psalm for our own times of trouble.
“For ever?”  No, God does not require that we wait that long for answers (v. 1).
God is always ready to consider and to listen (v. 3).
Let us never be “moved” by the enemies of God’s people (Acts 20:24).
The best place for our trust is ALWAYS in the mercies of God.
Let us sing His praises—now and forever.
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Revelation 15:3,4).   —Skip Andrews