King David certainly did. Psalm 13, a deeply personal and relatable cry for help, begins with that very sentiment: "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?"
It's a question that echoes through the ages, a question we’ve probably all asked in our own way at some point. David isn't just casually wondering; he’s pouring out his anguish. He feels forgotten, abandoned, his heart heavy with sorrow. "How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?"
But what's behind this raw emotion? Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, sheds light on a fascinating connection. It links David’s repeated "How long?" to a sort of cosmic mirroring, a principle of midah k’neged midah – measure for measure.
The Talmud, specifically in Sanhedrin 104a, elaborates on this. God, in earlier books of the Torah, asks the Israelites "How long?" several times, expressing frustration with their disobedience. Think about it: "How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?" (Exodus 16:28), "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me?" (Numbers 14:11), and "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who murmur against Me?" (Numbers 14:27).
The Midrash sees a direct correlation. Because the Israelites repeatedly tested God's patience with their "How longs?", a corresponding cry of "How long?" arose from their suffering. It’s as if the question boomeranged back.
The Talmud continues in Sanhedrin 104a by stating that the people of Israel said "How long?" four times (Psalm 13:1, 79:5, 89:47, and 90:13). Therefore, God said to the people of Israel, "I will deliver you into the hands of four kingdoms, and you will say 'How long' four times".
David's repetition of "How long" in Psalm 13 isn’t just a stylistic choice; it's a reflection of this historical and spiritual dynamic. It's a plea born from a cycle of action and reaction, a consequence of choices made long ago.
And yet, even in his despair, David doesn't lose hope. He cries out: "Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death." He acknowledges his vulnerability, his fear of being overwhelmed, but he still turns to God for help.
The Psalm concludes with a burst of faith: "But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me." Despite the "How long?" hanging in the air, David chooses to remember God's past kindnesses and trust in future redemption.
So, what does this all mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that our words and actions have consequences, that the questions we ask can shape our reality. But it’s also a testament to the enduring power of faith, the ability to find hope even in the midst of uncertainty, and to trust that even when we feel forgotten, we are still seen and heard. Can we, like David, find a song of hope even amidst our own "How longs?"