Sounds like David is continuing to have a bad day, week, year. Commentaries I read on Psalm 6 conclude that this Psalm was written as a response to sin in David's life. Most likely it was the mess he created with Bathsheba. (Isn't it ironic that David first saw "Bath"sheba as she was bathing on a roof top? 2 Samuel 11:2-3)
I am going to touch on four things from the 6th Psalm.
Verse 1 David does not ask the Lord not to punish him. He realizes that his sin deserves punishment. Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament make reference to how God disciplines those He loves. (Hebrews 12:5-6; Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 3:11-12; Revelation 3:19). Our Heavenly Father would not be just if He allowed His children to continually, intentionally sin without consequences. However, David makes a request that God not rebuke or discipline in wrath or anger. If only this advice were heeded by earthly fathers. Discipline is a necessary part of the growing process for a Christian or child, but angry discipline is most often regretted. Although Seth is out of the house, this is a good maximum for me to follow when I mete out consequences at school.
Verse 4 Here David realizes that any reprieve from the consequences of his sin are not because he is deserving or has earned that reprieve. Avoidance of just due is entirely a function of God's "unfailing love". If God disciplined us to the extent we deserve, most of us were be consequenced 24/7. Not only is the abatement of consequences an action of God's grace and mercy, but our initial salvation is also possible because of these same two attributes of God. We will never be righteous or holy enough on our own merit. If only I could show but a fraction of that love to those around me.
Verse 5 I find this verse a remarkable statement of David's love for God. David continues to ask for relieve from God's discipline, but not for the reasons most of us would request that relief. David's request for a reprieve is so that he can proclaim God's name and praise Him. It wasn't about restoring David's good name or making things better for himself. Even in the midst of God's discipline, David was focused on praising God. What a goal for all Christians who are in the midst of trials and tribulation.
Finally, a fact that struck me about the Psalm as a whole. Psalm 6 was written for the director of music. I don't know enough about ancient Israel to know if the Psalm was prepared for public performance, or just a select crowd, but it doesn't appear to be just a private entry in David's diary. Imagine if today's Church would take profession of sin to such a public level. How would that change the Church if we continued the tradition of public confession of sin? Not to a priest behind a closed door. Not just to God in the wee hours of the morning (although confession to God must come first). But to a larger body. Maybe a small prayer group. Maybe to a Sunday school class. What about to the congregation as a whole. Wednesday night services would become a Prayer AND Confession Meeting. Would we think twice about sinning? How much greater would be the healing and sense of relief? Hmmm. . .
Hope I have not written too much today, but this particular Psalm really spoke to me.
May you have a blessed Sunday and an even better week ahead.
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