Psalms 6

Psalms 6:8

This psalm was penned on one of David’s mournful days, when fell-will of body, anguish of heart, and the insults of his enemies, united to afflict him; yet, in the midst of all, he can confidently trust in God, and, though foreword, he always rejoicing. 1. He pours out his complaints before God, depresses his wrath, and prays for the return of his favour, ver. 17. 2. He informs us, that God had, and would, hear and answer his petitions, ver. 8—10.

¶ To the chief musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.

1. ‘O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chaffes me in thy hot displeasure. 2. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for ‘I am weak. 3. O LORD, ‘heal me, for my bones are vexed. 4. My soul is also fore vexed: but thou, O LORD, ‘how long? 5. Return, O LORD, deliver my soul; oh I save me for thy mercies take. 6. For ‘in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 7. I am weary with my groaning, + all the night make I my bed to swim: I water my couch with

with my tears. 7. 8 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

9. 1.—9. The direction to the chief musician is on Neginoth upon Sheminith, which is thought to be a harp of eight firings, and to accompany the voice. The psalm itself opens with a mournful mule, and befpeaks the deep affliction of both body and soul, and David’s humble abatement before God under his chastising rod.

10. He represents his moving cafe to the Father of mercies, and the God of all confidation. I am weak, worn down with pining Sicknefs; my buns are weed with tormenting pain; and, above all my other griefs, my foul is fore weed afar, the heaviest burden under which I groan. Note, (1.) The greatest kings, and the holiest faints of God, are equally exposed with others to the furturings of humanity. (2.) Bodily Sicknefs is doubly afflictive, when attended with a wounded spirit. (3.) Whatever our burdens are, it is our wisdom and only relief to cast them on the Lord.

11. His forrows were as his anguish great: his head was waters, and his eyes a fountain of tears, which ran down day and night; and when the fource was exhausted, and the dry eye-hall stiffened in the focket, his groaning continued, till, where and exhausted with grief, he was ready to pine away. Note, (1.) They who have ever felt a conscience wounded with the knife of fire, are no strangers to the Psalms’ tears. (2.) When our fin hath been great, our forrow will be great also. (3.) The dearest faints of God have been often most deeply exercised. Let not any faithful foul be discouraged under his suffering, and say, Is there any forrow like unto my forrow? for behold, greater is here.

12. He impuritatively cries for relief at the hands of his merciful God. Rebels me not in thine anger, neither shallen me in thy fat difficulties: however heavily thou art pleased to lay thy hand upon me, let it be a father’s rod, and not in wrath, but for correction: all my other anguish I can bear, but thy displeasure is intolerable. Have mercy on me, forgive all that I have done amils; hast me, the pain and Sicknefs of my body, but much more the wounds of my soul, which think and are corrupt through my foolishness, with the precious balm of thy grace. How long, Lord, Shall I cry before thou heareth me? Return; thy absence is more than I can bear; I sit up the light of thy countenance to clear my disconolaate heart. Deliver my foul from its forrow, and all those enemies Spiritual and temporal that long for my destruction. Oh jove me, for thou alone, Lord, art able to help in this my time of greatest need. I own, I have no title to demand, no defect to plead, but for thy mercies fate, as an act of sovereign grace, and undeserved favour. Note, (1.) The removal of a knife of God’s displeasure for sin, is much more earnestly defined by the humble soul, than the abatement or relief of his sufferings. (2.) If God ever regard us, we must remember it is not for any cause in us thereunto moving, either our sufferings or our forrows, but purely of his own great mercy in Jesus Christ. (3.) Though we may be with entire resignation giving ourselves up to God, we are not forbidden to pray to be healed. (4.) As long as we are encouraged under our most acute sufferings to pray, we are sure to be supported.

13. He strengthens his requests with an argument drawn from God’s glory, which is the most prevailing plea: In death no more remonsered thee; in the grave who shall give thee thence? I cannot there offer thee praise for my recovery, nor encourage others by my experience to trust upon thee. I can there no more brave thee in my generation, or lead the long of worship in thy sanctuary. Note, Though to depart and be with Christ is for better; yet, for God’s glory, and the church’s good, the faints of God who are ripest for heaven may desire to live.

14. 9 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and fore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

—10. Whilst he is speaking, God hears and answers; and therefore, ere he riles from his knees, the language of triumphant faith breaks forth, and, as the son dispels the darkness, light and gladness return to his afflicted soul.

1. He is divinely assured, that his prayers and tears had not been disregarded; that his requests are granted; and still a throne of great open for every farther perition, with full confidence of success: the Lord hath heard my present, and will hear my future prayer. Note, (1.) They who sow in prayers and tears, will assuredly reap in joy. (2.) He who once hath anchored us, as the God that heareth prayer, we may assuredly gather, will be the same yesterday, to-day, and for me.

2. He bids the workers of iniquity depart, confounded whilst they behold the happy change: or he expends his own holy purpose to keep himself henceforth from the ways of the destroyer, and to have no fellowship with the ungodly, v. 8. 10. 1.

Note, (1.) Every mercy we receive from God should engage our hearts nearer to him, and bind us firmer in his blessed service. (2.) They who would keep from the ways of evil, must separate themselves from the company of sinners.

3. He predicts the dreadful and hidden destruction of those who troubled and triumphed over him in his distress, v. 10. Shame at their disappointment, and vexation at his prosperity, shall cover them: they shall return from persecuting him, confounded at his deliverance, to unlike what they looked for, and seldom judgment overtake them in this world, or everlasting confusion be their portion in the world to come. Note, (1.) The devices of the enemies of God’s people, spiritual and temporal, shall be surely disappointed. (2.) They who return not now to God in penitence, must shortly depart from him into everlasting burnings.