Read Psalm 6
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
Go Deeper
Psalms 6 is categorized as the first of the Penitential Psalms–which is a big word that means an expression of repentance. The Psalmists in these particular psalms are expressing sorrow over sin and spiritual failure. King David is the writer of Psalm 6. He is in deep affliction and uses this opportunity to poetically express his weariness to the Lord.
Based on the language that is used, we can conclude that David is feeling not only helpless, but also hopeless in his situation. In verse 2, we learn that his circumstances have left him with physical ailments (“Heal me O Lord for my bones are in agony.”) Then in verse 3, he expresses that he is also agonizing spiritually (“I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?”) And in verses 6 and 7, we feel the weight of the emotional toll that this is taking on him (“I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.”)
Regardless of the details of the situation he is lamenting about, we can conclude that David is desperately appealing to God for relief. It’s important to point out, though, that David’s laments in this chapter are not complaints–he is not placing blame on God for the situation that he has found himself in. Instead, he is pouring his soul out to God and asking for mercy.
As we continue reading in verse 8, we see that David’s tone makes a sudden change from sorrow to a confident expression of joy “…for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.” Despite his physical, spiritual, and emotional turmoil, David chose to not stay in that place. He turned his deep felt grief and weariness into a prayer to God and by the time he got to the end of his prayer, he found himself knowing with confidence that God had heard him and would answer him.
The natural human response to hopeless and helpless situations is to complain and to search for someone to blame. As Christians though, we should learn from the pattern that King David established here in this psalm. Express your sorrows to the Lord through prayer. Allow your honesty and vulnerability to be an appeal to God for mercy and relief. And then TRUST and know with confidence that God has heard your weeping and will answer your prayer!
Questions
- What are you agonizing over physically, spiritually, and emotionally right now?
- Have you been honest with the Lord with the feelings you expressed above?
- Spend time expressing those feelings to the Lord and pray until you feel confident that the Lord has heard your prayers and you. Trust that He will answer you!
Did you know?
In verse 4, the word “unfailing love” is the Hebrew word chesedh which has implications that mean the steadfast love of a covenant God who cares for us not because we are perfect, but because He is.
4 responses to “Psalm 6”
“For the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer” (v8b-9).
In this broken world where things are not as God intended, it’s easy to lose hope. Sickness, war, death, fractured relationships, etc. can push us to the brink of despair. David reminds us that we can lament to God by yielding it all to him in prayer. Our merciful God hears and responds to our cries with his unfailing love.
My word is here, HESED. God’s unfailing love. This Hebrew word is considered untranslatable because it is a combination of love, devotion and strength in one concept. It flows out of eternity with no limits. It is an action word.
God is so so good and “even if” things are hard, and this is the reality of our world. There is physical pain and suffering, soul-anguish and depression, weariness, tears of sorrow, oppression from spiritual and worldly enemies and all of these weigh on us today. How do you deal in such emotions? How do you cope with the realities of life within your relationship with God?
BUT GOD, it is well with my soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/B6fA35Ved-Y?si=WGqd-4zaiocSO1WN
God I know that I know deep in my knower that You are the only true God. I believe with all my heart that You want me for Your child. God thank You for Your son, who was willing to die for my sins so that I can be a child of You. God continue to help me with my unbelief. Show me in Your word and make things crystal clear. God I desire You above all things. I want to do all things according to Your word and will. “Even if” things are not the way I want, I know that I know You have all things and that God, You, work all things together for the good of those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. So I stand on that. God thank You for the minutes of this day. God help me to put You and Your word in my head and heart with that coming out of my mouth. God thank You for wisdom and knowledge in all that I say and do in Jesus name amen.
4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Today’s reading felt like we had returned to Job with all of its pain, sorrow, and lamenting!
This idea of unfailing love is so comforting. God’s love is steadfast. It endures forever!
Praise- Psalm 63:3-4
Repent- Psalm 139:23-24
Ask- Hebrews 4:16
Yield- Romans 8:26