This psalm grew out of an experience of sickness and pain, when David thought he was going to die. Besides his pain, he had to put up with the attacks of his enemies who wanted him to die. It is part of those psalms (Psalms 3–7) that were composed during the Absalom Rebellion. It was a time of deep personal anguish for David. How tragic for him and also for parents today who suffer distress over an estranged child. In spite of all this, he did not waver in his faith. How can parents in such pain survive?
Psalm shows us how. Psalm 6:1-10:
David asked for mercy for his body (vv. 1–2) and he then asked for mercy for his soul (vv. 3–5). Mercy means that God does not give us what we deserve, and grace means that He gives us what we do not deserve. What a loving God He is! That rich word hesed (God’s covenant love or mercy) again appears (Ps. 6:4). It is the Lord’s hesed that saves and sustains us. “It is of the Lord’s mercies (hesed) that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lam. 3:22 KJV).
David asked God about his tears of repentance and confession (vv. 6–7). His bed should have been a place of rest, but it had become a place of trial as God chastened him. Sickness can lead to greater sanctification but it can also lead to greater sin! Tears of pain can become tears of repentance. “Put my tears into your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Ps. 56:8).
David was assured and his enemies would be ashamed (vv. 8–10)! God heard and answered his prayers! When the night is dark and long, keep on trusting, and the dawn will come in God’s good time. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Ps. 30:5). Here we see David again clinging to the promises of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:14–15). What a lesson for us to cling to the promises even when they don’t appear to be active in our everyday experiences!
The age-old query, “How long” (v. 3) is a perennial question with which Moses (Ps. 90:13) and Asaph (Ps. 74:10) also struggled. As we shall see later in the “Lament Psalms,” it is better to ask the Lord that question than complain about it to others.
The Penitential Psalms
Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51,102, 130, and 143 are known as the “Penitential Psalms.” You may use these psalms as your own prayers when you want to confess sin and ask for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). More about these when we get to Psalms 32 and 38.
My Faithful Lord, have pity on those of us who are sorely troubled and wasted with grief. Hear the voice of our weeping, and drive away all that troubles us, so that we may bear witness to Your salvation as we live in Your light. AMEN.