Our Common Prayerbook: Psalm 6 - 2

There is progress in Psalm 6 but the psalmist doesn’t spell out each step in the progress. Perhaps the psalmist has sinned; he doesn’t say so. He is opposed by enemies and they have driven David to his limit. He pleads with God to rescue him because, so the psalmist believes, God is faithful.

He then makes another plea on his behalf: “For no one remembers you in the realm of death, In Sheol who gives you thanks?” That is, because this psalmist is a celebrator or thanker or praiser of God, he contends he should be spared. If he goes down into Sheol, well there’s no one who sings praises there. So, deliver me!

He returns to his pain in vv. 6-7 but this time he speaks from his pain and not from his fear of YHWH (as in v. 1). All night long he weeps over his condition.

And again, he begins talking to his enemies: “Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping 6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy; the Lord has accepted my prayer.” He tells them to leave and he warns them that God is listening to him … he goes further… he says in fact that God has heard and accepted his pleas. Their wishes are over; God is with the psalmist.

Then he meditates to himself, pondering what God’s listening to him means:

May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified!

May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!

Our guide in the Psalms is John Goldingay (Psalms, Vol. 1: Psalms 1-41
).

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!

Do not discipline me in your raging fury!

6:2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail!

Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!

6:3 I am absolutely terrified,

and you, Lord – how long will this continue?

6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me!

Deliver me because of your faithfulness!

6:5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death,

In Sheol who gives you thanks?

6:6 I am exhausted as I groan;

all night long I drench my bed in tears;

my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

6:7 My eyes grow dim from suffering;

they grow weak because of all my enemies.

6:8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,

for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping!

6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;

the Lord has accepted my prayer.

6:10 May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified!

May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!

Read Previous Post

The Challenge of Adam 5 (RJS)