Psalms 6

Psalms 6:1-10

Deliverance in Trouble Psalms 6:1-10 This is the first of the Penitential Psalms, the other six being Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 38:1-22; Psalms 51:1-19; Psalms 102:1-28; Psalms 130:1-8; Psalms 143:1-12. The earliest verses are a wail, but the psalm ends in a song. It is like a day of rain which clears at evening. Sheminith is a musical term signifying “ octave.” The elements of the psalmist’ s sorrow are given in Psalms 6:1-7. The pressure of God’ s displeasure, soul-anguish, sickness, soul-depression, an enemy’ s opposition-all these were ingredients in his cup of bitterness. How touching the plea-I am weak! How expressive the broken sentence, so often on Calvin’ s lips-How long! And that prayer, O Lord, heal me, includes the mental as well as the physical. The certainty of deliverance looms in sight in Psalms 6:8-10. The consciousness of having been heard steals over the soul as a glint of light in the hospital ward. The answer may not be at hand, but it is sure, 1 John 5:15. Weeping has a voice: God interprets sighs. The r.v. turns the imprecation of Psa 6:10 into prediction. When God returns to us, because we return to Him, our enemies turn back.

The Lord hath heard!The first of the Penitential Psalms; the other six being Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 38:1-22; Psalms 51:1-19; Psalms 102:1-28; Psalms 130:1-8; Psalms 143:1-12. Sheminith is evidently a musical term, signifying the octave. The earlier verses of this Psalm are a wail; but it ends in a song. It is like a day of rain which clears at evening. The Psalm is full of beautiful ejaculatory cries.

Psalms 6:1-7 The elements of the Psalmist’s sorrow. There was the pressure of Divine displeasure because of sin (Psalms 6:1-2), combined with soul-anguish (Psalms 6:3-4), perhaps accompanied with sickness, bringing nigh unto death (Psalms 6:4-5), while enemies add their hate (Psalms 6:6-7). In Psalms 6:5 David considers the grave as disabling us from that active service of praise which is the peculiar privilege of the living (Isaiah 38:19). He clearly foresaw the Resurrection; but perhaps not so clearly the state of the departed, which is brought to light in the Gospel. How touching is the plea, so suitable for sufferers!–for I am weak. How expressive the broken sentence, How long? Which was often on Calvin’s lips! And that prayer, O Lord, heal met. May well be on our lips continually.

Psalms 6:8-10 The certainty of the Psalmist’s deliverance. The prayer is no sooner uttered than answered. The consciousness of having been heard steals over the weary soul like a glint of light on to a bed in the hospital ward. David knows that the petition is granted, though it has not yet come to hand (1 John 5:15). Weeping has a voice for the ear of God. He can interpret sighs and tears (Psalms 6:8). In the Revised Version, the words of Psa 6:10 read like an imprecation–they shall be ashamed and turn back. When God returns (Psalms 6:4), our enemies turn back (Psalms 6:10).