Psalm 6

Overview: (NET) The psalmist begs the Lord to withdraw his anger and spare his life. Having received a positive response to his prayer, the psalmist then confronts his enemies and describes how they retreat. Beginning from Psalm 4 until 6 they are songs that accompanied with musical instruments. If this is just a personal experience of David, why David wants this Psalm to become a song for people to sing? How can this experience help people to worship? 

 2 kinds of danger David faced: 

1. v.1-6 Sickness Physically, David was weak, "I am fail," "heal me" v.2, "in the realm of death," "in Sheol" v.5, "I am exhausted as I groan," v.6 David also knew that the sickness was the result of God's anger on him. Perhaps due to his sin. "Do not discipline me," v.1, "I am absolutely terrified," "Relent, LORD," v.4 (NET) The implication is that the psalmist has sinned, causing God to discipline him by bringing a life-threatening illness upon him (see vv. 2–7). v.3 reminds me when I coughed for 2 months: 6:3 I am absolutely terrified, and you, LORD—how long will this continue? v..5 is hard to understand: v.5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death, In Sheol who gives you thanks (NET) In his effort to elicit a positive divine response, the psalmist reminds God that he will receive no praise or glory if he allows the psalmist to die. Dead men do not praise God! He seemed to threaten God, but in v.4 he only appeal to God's faithfulness. He knows that God had promised him and would rescued him and if he died then those will not happen. 

 2. v.7 Enemies v.7 My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies In his weakened condition the psalmist is vulnerable to the taunts and threats of his enemies. Result of his pleading: 6:8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping! v.9 The LORD has heard my appeal for mercy; the LORD has accepted my prayer. 

Notes the tense in v.8-9, perfect tense for "has heard" and "has accepted."(NET)The psalmist’s mood abruptly changes because the LORD responded positively to the lament and petition of vv. 1–7 and promised him deliverance. Just like the other Psalms the enemies always ridiculed on David that God did not hear him. Here, David assured them that God has heard him, and accepted his prayer. The proof of his faith: 6:10 May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified! May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated! David was confident that God has heard him and has accepted his prayer. Therefore, instead of he himself being terrified v.2, he asked that God would make them terrified.

Reflection: Why David wrote this song to be sung by all worshiper? v.4 Relent, LORD, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness! David could overcame his dangers and be confident that he has heard his prayer is based on God's faithfulness. God is the God that gave them the covenant. (Note, the name, Yahweh, is used in v.1,2,3,4,8,9). God is faithful to His people. The power to turn from danger to confident is based on His faithfulness to His people. We have dangers and we have enemies who try to hurt us when we are weak, but we are also God's people. When we prayed we can claim His promise to us and cry for Him because of His faithfulness. We confessed that He is our God and our only hope. This is our worship. 

 Audrey