1.0 The Overview
Psalm 6 is called “the Penitential (Repentant) Psalm,” and it is first of the Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalm 6; Psalm 32; Psalm 38; Psalm 51; Psalm 102; Psalm 130; Psalm 143), that expresses the sorrow (Psalm 6:3, 6-7), the effects of grief on the body, soul, and spirit (Psalm 6:2, 4).
- David Pleads for God’s Mercy (Psalm 6:2, 4), which are the unfailing marks of the Person who is broken and contrite, who turns to God for Mercy and Deliverance – Psalm 6:4 “Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save (deliver) me for Your mercies’ sake!”
- Psalm 6 is sometimes called “the Personal Lament” and the classification of “trouble” and “trust” is aptly described in Psalm 6.
- Psalm 51 is the best-known Penitential Psalm, the Psalm of David, when Nathan, the Prophet came to David, after he had had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah (2Samuel Chapter 11).
- Psalm 6 is the First of these “7 Penitential Psalms,” there may be no specific mention of sin, but the anguish and the language is truly that of the real Penitent (Repentant) Person, who feels the weight of the wrong which he had done.
- Psalm 6 is the Psalm of David to the Chief Musician on Neginóth upon Shem’inith. David wrote a total of 73 Psalms out of the 150 Psalms; and 10 Messianic Psalms out of the 16 Messianic Psalms.
- Psalm 6 is divided into Four Stanzas – The First Stanza is Psalm 6:1-3; the Second Stanza Psalm 6:4-5; the Third Stanza is Psalm 6:6-7; and the Last Stanza is Psalm 6:8-10.
“Neginóth” means “stringed instruments,” which apparently indicates that such should be used in preference to wind instruments in the “Penitential Psalm” to reflect its solemnity (gravity) of mood.
F.W.Grant’s comment is very beautiful. “The flute is silent, and the music of the stringed instruments, better fitted to express the deeper emotions of the heart, follows them: and indeed, in the bass notes upon the octave.” “Shem’inith” means “the eighth” or “an octave” or eight strings of a musical instrument or eight noted melodies to which Psalm 6 is to be sung.
Spurgeon remarks on Psalm 6: “A proof of the high antiquity of these Psalms…proofs of their being what they profess to be, the ancient writings of King David of olden times.” We cannot be certain that this Psalm belongs to the Period between David’s Sin with Bathsheba and Absalom’s Rebellion (J. Flanigan – “What the Bible teaches”).
1.1 David Appeals
Psalm 6:1-3 “O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your Anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have Mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O LORD – how long?”
- David is in deep distress of body (“bones”) soul (“greatly troubled”) and obviously expecting and deserving God’s rebuke and chastisement because of some grievous sin, which were not spelled out.
- David, in the spirit of true repentance, he neither denies nor refuses God’s rebuke and chastening:
1.1.1 David Submits
Psalm 6:1“O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your Anger, not chasten me in Your hot displeasure.” – David submits himself to God’s rebuke and chastening – “Whom the Lord loves He chastens,” and, “No chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous” (Hebrews 12:6,11).
- David requests that God’s rebuke and chastening be tempered and comes not to him {David} in His (God’s) Anger or hot Displeasure.
- David understands that “I (the LORD) will not contend for ever, neither will I (the LORD) be always wroth; for the spirit should fail before Me (the LORD), and the souls which I (the LORD) had made” (Isaiah 57:16).
- Jeremiah also made the same request to the LORD: “O LORD, correct me, but with judgement; not in Your Anger, lest You bring me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:24).
Whatever the cause of David’s Plea, his focus is on God’s Anger as he begins his Prayer. He uses two basic Hebrew words for Divine Dealing: “Anger” and “Hot Displeasure:”
- Anger – The word “anger” comes from the root meaning both “Anger” and “Nose;” there is a clear connection between Anger and the “blast of breath” of snorting of Psalm 18:15.
- Hot Displeasure – The term, “hot displeasure” is derived from the verb “to be hot;” God’s Anger burns.
Psalm 6, God’s “Anger” and “Hot Displeasure” are remedial rather than punitive and destructive. When David asks that God not “rebuke” him, it is in the sense of “correct” him in His Anger or “chasten” (“discipline”) him in His “Hot Displeasure.”
1.1.2 David Pleads
Psalm 6:2a “Have Mercy (“unfailing love” – NIV) upon me, O LORD; for I am weak (withering).” – David pleads for God’s Mercy and understanding of his frailty (weak = withering).Bodily ailment (illness) seems certainly to be implied.
It is that sort of bodily ailment which is often produced by mental distress – a general languor [laziness}, weariness, and distaste for exertion (Psalms 31:10; Psalm 38:3; Psalm 102:3). David does not follow the example of:
- Adam & Eve hid themselves amongst the trees of the Garden (Genesis 3:8).
- King Saul turned to the Witch (1Samuel 28:7).
- Jonah ran to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3).
David’s request shows the recognition of the disciplinary side of suffering. He does not deny his guilt, nor claim innocence.
- David appeals for God’s Mercy (“Unfailing Love” – NIV) from an Angry God, from Himself to Himself.
- David appeals from God’s Virtue, Justice, Mercy. David does not plead what he is or what he has done for God but appeal out of his “weakness (withering).”
1.1.3 God’s Mercy
Psalm 6:2a “Have Mercy (“unfailing love” – NIV) upon me, O LORD; for I am weak (withering),” is sought from God for Davids physical well-being (Psalm 6:2), as well as his emotional (soul) and spiritual well-being (Psalm 6:2-4). The basis of appealing for God’s Mercy is twofold:
- God’s Mercy (“Unfailing Love” – NIV) transcends (rise above) over His Anger (Psalm 6:1).
- David’s Physical Condition – “I am Weak” (Withering – Psalm 6:2a).
1.1.4 David acknowledges
Psalm 6:2b “O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” –David acknowledges his wrongdoing and recognises the extent of this grief has affected his physical well-being (bones = bodily frame).
David requests God for “healing of his bones (bodily frame) and release from agony.” David is withered and troubled in his “bones.” Bones also frequently indicates the Person’s inmost being.
1.1.5 David Realises
Psalm 6:3a “My soul is very vexed.” – David realises that the grief and the vexation (trouble) is now beginning to affect his emotional life (“soul”), deeply (“very vexed” = very troubled = terrified). The “Soul” implies the strength and fortitude. Soul troubled is the very Soul of trouble (Spurgeon). David is sick in his whole being:
- His Bones = “Physical being” is vexed (“trouble = terrified” – Psalm 6:2b).
- His Soul {Mind} = “Emotional being” is very vexed (“very troubled = terrified” – Psalm 6:3a).
- His Mind is on death (Psalm 6:5).
- He Groans and Cries all night as depression set-in (Psalm 6:6).
- His eyesight dimmed and he aged (Psalm 6:7).
David’s Anguish is so severe that both his body (bones – bodily frame), and soul, his inner resources of mind and spirit, are on the verge of breakdown. Of them both {body & mind}, David says that they {body & mind} are vexed (“troubled = terrified”). David’s condition is one of the utmost terrors, felt physically {body}, mentally {soul}, and spiritually {spirit}.
1.1.6 David Calls
Psalm 6:3b “But You O LORD, how long?” – David calls for “God’s Mercy” is punctuated with the declaration of “O LORD” (mentioned five times in Psalm 6:1-4), with a desperate cry of “how long” (Psalm 6:3b). David’s cry is that of the Person wearied out with long suffering (Psalm 90:13) “The how long” (domine usuequo) is the favourite cry of John Calvin when he faced intense grief.
1.1.7 David Prays
(Psalm 6:1-3) – David’s Prayer is an effective antidote to his trouble because it leads him to repose (rest) on God’s “Unfailing Love (NIV) = Mercy (KJV)” (Psalm 6:2). David pleads on God’s Character, whose attitude towards His {God’s} People is one of “Steadfast Love” (Mercy -Psalm 6:2) – Psalm 6:2a “Have Mercy (“unfailing love” – NIV) upon me, O LORD; for I am weak (withering).”
David demonstrates 7fold attitudes of true repentance: (1) David submits (Psalm 6:1); (2) David Pleads (Psalm 6:2a); (3) David looks to God’s Mercy (Psalm 6:2a); (4) David Acknowledges (Psalm 6:2b); (5) David Realises Sin affects (Psalm 6:3a); (6) David Calls on God (Psalm 6:3b); (7) David Prays (Psalm 6:1-3).
Trouble is “the Teacher of Prayer.”In trouble even the Person who does not Pray will begin to Pray. Prayer in trouble is like an arrow shot from a full-bent bow – straight at the mark. David’s Prayer was intensely:
- Personal – “My Supplication” (Psalm 6:9).
- Urgent – “The Voice of my Weeping” (Psalm 6:8b).
- Persistent – “All the Night” (Psalm 6:6a).
- Seizing hold on God’s Mercy as his {David’s} Plea (Psalm 6:4b).
- Pattern according to our blessed Lord Jesus’ example (Hebrews 5:7).
David’s Prayer is the cry of an anguished Person. He {David}longs that God’s chastisement should be over and done.
David is suffering Physically (“bones are vexed = “troubled”) and Emotionally (“soul is very vexed = very troubled”), due to the extent of the LORD (Jehovah’s) Anger and Hot Displeasure (Psalm 6:1).
Story:In one of those moods of despondency, which at times sweep over all of us, it is in the language of Psalm 6 that Jane Welsh Carlyle utters her cry for help. On March 24th, 1856, she had resolved, in spite of weakness and ill-health, neither to indulge in vain retrospect nor to gaze into vague distances of the future, but to find the duty nearest to hand, and do it. Two days later she had learned how much she was the creature of external conditions. “One cold, rasping, save March Day,” aided by the too tender sympathy of a friend brought back all her troubles, and she writes (March 26th, 1856):
“Have Mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am Weak.
O LORD heal me, for my bones are vexed.
My soul is also sore vexed; but You O LORD, how long!
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul.
O save me for Your Mercies’ sake.”
1.2 David Travails and Tears
Psalm 6:4“Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: Oh, save me for Your Mercies’ sake. – David grieves at God’s Absence, and pleaded: “Return, O LORD.” It is consistent and understandable fact, that Sin causes God’s Presence to depart. This is evident in Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8, 23).
We cannot have both Sin and God’s Presence – Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, that He will not hear.” David makes the 3fold Requests. Notice the sequence:
1.2.1 God’s Presence
Psalm 6:4a “Return O LORD.” – David seeks the Return of God’s Presence. He comes from the Deprecatory {Disapproving – “Rebuke me not”- Psalm 6:1} to the Supplicatory {Mercy, Healing, Deliverance, Salvation – Psalm 6:2, 4}.
- David believes in “God’s Faithfulness.” Not that God will do nothing against him, but that He would do something for him.
- David’s Prayer is to “Take hold on God (Psalm 6:1), Rests on God’s Mercies (Psalm 2), Moves God because of His {God’s} Fatherly Love (Psalm 6:1-4), Prevails against the circumstances with God (Psalm 6:1-4).”
1.2.2 Deliverance
Psalm 6:4b “Deliver my Soul.” – David Pleads for “Deliverance” (Salvation) because he believes in the “Steadfast Love” of God. He (David) Prays for release from the Sickness of body (Physical {bones are troubled – Psalm 6:2b}and soul (mental, emotional healing – Psalm 6:3a}.
1.2.3 Salvation
Psalm 6:4c “Oh, Save me for Your Mercies’ Sake.” – David could not plead for justice because justice would condemn him.
- David Pleads for God’s Mercies {Unfailing Love, NIV – Psalm 6:2a 4b} – The Abundant of God’s Mercies {Unfailing Love}, expresses the Greatness, Vastness, and Magnanimity (Generous Spirit – Psalm 51:12) of God’s Mercies {1Peter 1:3 – “Abundant Mercy”}.
- David Turns to God’s Mercies {Unfailing Love, NIV}, and continued to cry to Him (God), notwithstanding the Greatness of his {David’s}Guilt.
- Communion with God {“Return – Psalm 6:4a}, Deliverance from Sickness {Heal me, bones are troubled – Psalm 6:2b} and Salvation {Deliver me,…Save me – Psalm 6:4b} involves the whole Person and is grounded on God’s Mercies (Unfailing Love, NIV).
- Salvation, as we have seen in Psalm 6:1-4, is not merely release from Sin but includes the restoration of the whole Person (our spirit {Relationship with God}, soul {mental, emotional health}, and body {physical health} – 1Thessalonians 5:5:23).
- David’s Call for Healing has both the terror of sickness and the confidence in God’s Mercy {Unfailing Love, NIV} to Deliver.
In our mortality we know the terror, but in our faith, we can know God’s Power to restore us. Prayer is the Power Point, bringing the Healing by God’s Spirit to the wounds of our lives.
1.2.4 Living
Psalm 6:5 “For in death there is no remembrance of You; in grave (shoel) who shall give You thanks? – David feels his burden is so great, it will soon bring him to his death (grave), if his burden is not removed.
- David appeals for Healing (Psalm 6:2) because of God’s Mercy {Unfailing Love, NIV – Psalm 6:2, 4}.
- David Needs {Healings of his spirit, soul {mind, mental}, and body {physical} – Psalm 6:2-4}, but because of the finality of Physical Death (Psalm 6:5).
- David is not denying consciousness after death, but he reasons that his death (Psalm 6:5) does not glorify God with two Facts:
First, No Remembrance of God (Psalm 6:5a) – Remembrance is more than mental recollection. It is recounting of experiences of God’s Great Mercy {Unfailing Love, NIV – Psalm 2a, 4b} in an Act of Worship:
- Psalm 71:15 “My mouth shall tell of Your Righteousness and Your Salvation all day, for I do not know their limits.”
- Isaiah 63:7 “I will mention the lovingkindness of the LORD and the Praises of the LORD according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the Great Goodness towards the House of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His Mercies (Unfailing Love), according to the multitude of His Loving kindnesses.”
Second, No Praise or Giving of Thanks in the Grave. The Hebrew word “Sheol” (Grave – Psalm 6:5b).
David is not addressing himself to the question of the question of “afterlife;” rather, he is pleading with God to spare his life.
Psalm 32, particularly verses 3 and 4, indicate that David was so affected physically by his remorse and regret that he lived in fear of death? – Psalm 32:3-4 “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer, Selah.”
1.3 David’s Weariness
Psalm 6:6-7 “I am weary with my groaning; all the night makes I my bed to swim; I drench (water) my couch with my tears. Mine eye wastes away because of grief; its growth old because of all mine enemies.
1.3.1 Emotional Health
In Psalm 6:6-7, David elaborates on his emotional condition and introduces a new aspect (enemies). Not only does he {David} experienced sickness (Psalm 6:2b – “Bones are troubled”); he has Enemies as well {Psalm 6:7b}.
“The Weak” (“Withering”) of Psalm 6:2 because of his (David’s) profuse and bitter weeping (Psalm 6:6-7):
- Depression and Exhaustion as complete as this are beyond “self-help” or “Counsellor’s Advice” – “I am weary with my groaning.” (Psalm 6:6a). God’s People may groan but we are not to grumble, as grumbling is ungodliness (Jude 15-16).
- Sleepless Weeping is added to his (David’s) Groans – Psalm 6:6b “All the night makes I my bed to swim; I drench (water) my couch with my tears.” Day and night, sleeplessly, David wept and groaned and prayed, until physically, was drained of strength and energy.
- David’s tears watered his bed by night and bedewed his cough by day and there is no respite (break, rest – Psalm 6:6-7a).
- Sleep Depredation – His (David’s) eyes sunken with sleep depredation – “My eyes are consumed” (Psalm 6:7a). His (David’s) Eyes fall in, becomes dull, and, as it were “waste away” through long-continued grief (Psalm 6:7a; Psalm 31:9).
- David had aged prematurely and, sadly his enemies know it – “Its growth old because of all mine enemies.” It becomes due and heavy and sunken, like the eyes of an old man. How often has it not been noted that nothing so many ages a Person as grief!
- Penitent is David that he expresses: “I water my cough with my tears.” (Psalm 6:6c). Night after night he drenches his bed because of the realisation of his sin. He is truly remorseful (regretful).
- Weeping is the eloquence (expressiveness) of sorrow. Tears “as liquid” of Prayers and of Weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way (Charles H Spurgeon).
- Contrite – It is not the weeping eyes God respects as the broken heart – “God stood looking on Hezekiah’s tears” and added 15 years to his life (Isaiah 38:5).
David’s Physical Sickness (Psalm 6:2) and deep emotional distress (Psalm 6:3) has come from the sense of God’s Absence, the consuming illness (Psalm 6:2-3).
The Enemies used David’s debilitation (weakened) to attack him (Psalm 6:7b). It is ironic that when we are down, others exploit the situation. Psalm 6:6-7 Portrays the emotional Anatomy of all illness:
- Groaning (Psalm 6:6a).
- Crying (Psalm 6:6b).
- Sleepless Nights (Psalm 6:6)
- Outside Attacks (Psalm 6:7b).
1.3.2 The Lordship
What else can David do but Prays and Calls upon the LORD (the Call of “O LORD” – five times in Psalm 6:1-4 and total = 8 times throughout Psalm 6).
- Martin Luther said: “Prayer is the Leech of the Soul that sucks out the venom and swelling thereof.”
- John Trapp said: “How oft hath Prayer found me despairing almost but left me triumphing and well assured of pardon!”
1.4 Prayer Answered
Psalm 6:8-10 “Depart from me all you Workers of Iniquity; for the LORD has heard the Voice of my Weeping. The LORD has heard my Supplication; the LORD will receive my Prayer. Let all mine Enemies be ashamed and greatly (very) Vexed; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.”
1.4.1 Prayer Answered
David’s tears and Prayers have not been for nothing. David suddenly shifts in tone and his shout: “Depart from me, all you Workers of Iniquity,” (Psalm 6:8a), indicates that David’s Plea for Mercy (“Unfailing Love,” NIV) has been heard by God. This sudden display of Confidence in God, is found in almost every Suppliant (Pleading) in the Book of Psalms, is most telling evidence of an answering touch from God – “The LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.” (Psalm 6:8b).
1.4.2 David the King
The context of our Lord Jesus’ quotation of “Depart from me, all you Workers of Iniquity” in Matthew 7:23 implies His {God’s} Judgement that David is speaking here as King.
- This is not merely “a hard-pressed” David rounding on his Enemies, but the Sovereign (King David) asserting his Power to rebuke his Enemies.
- David’s Enemies are called “Workers of Iniquity” (Psalm 6:8a), are the People who harm a sick man for their own advantage.
David has complete Assurance by quoting the Name “the LORD” (Jehovah) three times and twice. David uses the phrase “The LORD hath heard.” (Psalm 6:8b, 9a). He makes three Statements in anticipation of Answered Prayer:
- The LORD had heard the Voice of David’s Weeping (Psalm 6:8b). Penitential tears speak loudly.
- The LORD had heard David’s Supplication (Psalm 6:9a). Supplication means “Request for favour or grace.”
- The LORD had heard David’s Prayer (Psalm 6:9b). David speaks of his inward conviction. David knows that he had Prayed sincerely and fervently. David is certain, therefore, that his Prayer is heard and accepted.
The above three Statements of “The LORD had heard,” are the essence of David’s “trust” of the LORD. Therefore, all those who plague or criticize him are suddenly rebuked.
- Restored – Now, as he {David} is restored and reconciled, his (David’s) added Plea that his Enemies should be as he had once been, Sore Vexed (troubled) and Ashamed.
- David’s words “My soul is greatly vexed (troubled)” (Psalm 6:3a), now describes his Enemies in Psalm 6:10a “Let all my Enemies be ashamed and greatly vexed (troubled – Psalm 6:10).”
In David’s Restoration, he moves closer to the LORD, and further away from his Enemies. David’s two problems resolved:
- David’s Fellowship with God is Restored – The Issue of Psalm 6:1-4.
- David’s Vulnerability to his Enemies is protected by God (Psalm 6:8-10).
David can triumphantly declare that his Enemies will be “ashamed” (mentioned twice – “Confounded” – Psalm 6:10) and very vexed (“very troubled” – Psalm 6:10) not so much by revenge as by the desire that by David’s Deliverance and Restoration of God. David Enemies’ False Accusation is exposed (Psalm 6:10):
- In Attacking David, his (David’s) Enemies have attacked the LORD Himself (Psalm 6:10).
- In Seeking David’s Sickness as God’s Judgment, his (David’s) Enemies have failed to see God’s Mercies (Unfailing Love – NIV) and His (God’s) Covenantal Love upon David, in the Davidic Covenant (2Samuel 7; 1Chronicles 17; Psalm 89; Psalm 132).
God restored David’s Physical Sickness {“Bones are troubled” – Psalm 6:2) and Mental (“Soul greatly troubled – Psalm 6:3, 6-7), and inflicted on David’s Enemies (“Greatly troubled” – Psalm 6:10a). David Prays against his Enemies: “Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly” (Psalm 6: 10b).
1.5 Application
There is much we can learn from Psalm 6 about Praying for Restoration, as David
- Not all Sickness is the result of Sin and God’s Judgement – However, some Sickness and the Physical Ailment can come from spiritual and emotional Pain (Psalm 6:2, 3, 6-7), due to our sin. When body, soul and spirit are troubled (Psalm 6:2-3), due to our sin, healing must include both the physical, emotional, and spiritual – Psalm 6:2b, 3a “Heal me, for my bones {physical} are troubled. My Soul {emotion} also is greatly troubled.” It is important to seek God for Healing and Restoration, involving the Prayer for “inner healing,” so that there will be holistic healing (spirit, soul, and body – 1Thessalonians 5:23) and not only symptomatic alleviation.
- If we Sinned, the chain of Sin, Sickness and God’s Judgement can be broken, if we sincerely repent and seek God’s Forgiveness and Restoration. While it is true that we Reap what we Sow (Galatians 6:7), nevertheless, God is fully able and desirous of breaking that Chain. Beyond His (God’s) Judgement is His Mercy (Unfailing Love – NIV – Psalm 6:2a, 4b). God through our Lord Jesus Christ restores us, in Jesus Christ, His Son with His Grace and Mercy – Psalm 68b,9 “For the LORD has heard the Voice of my Weeping. The LORD has heard my Supplication; the LORD will receive my Prayer.”
- Correct Diagnosis (of sin or otherwise) for Healing is important. If our Sickness is due to our Sin and Disobedience, we need to lay out all our symptoms before the LORD, as David did in Psalm 6:2b-3a, in honesty and open ourselves totally to God’s Forgiving and Healing Power (Psalm 6:8b-9), of His (God’s) Mercy {Unfailing Love, NIV – Psalm 6:2a, 4b).
- Our Prayer and Supplication to God, may involve the rebuttal of our Enemies, if so, revealed to us by God’s Spirit, and having received answer to our Prayer – Psalm 6:8a, 10 “Depart from me, all your Workers of Iniquity…Let all my Enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” However, it is important that we do not assume it to be so, as not to be presumptuous.
- As we Pray, we are to trust God for Healing upon us, David confesses: “The LORD has heard my Supplication; the LORD will receive my Prayer” (Psalm 6:9). We may not see the immediate result, as David experienced, but we are to keep on thanking God and trusting Him. As Francis McNutt teaches, often Healing is progressiveas more of God’s Power through Prayer.
- Today God is Restoring His Healing Covenant to the Church (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; Psalm 107:20; Exodus 23:25; Proverbs 3:8-9; Isaiah 53:5; 1Peter 2:24; 1Corinthians 12:8-9; 2Chronicles 30:20; 3John 2; Marks 16:18). Jesus’ Promise that those who believe “will lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18) as more and more Christians experienced Divine Healings, as they take God at His Word, by Faith.