A Cry for Mercy under Judgment. Prayer for Mercy in Sickness. Psalm 6:1-10

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 A Cry for Mercy under Judgment Prayer for Mercy in Sickness Psalm 6:1-10

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Psalm 6:1-10, A Cry for Mercy under Judgment Prayer For Mercy In Sickness 1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4. Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies sake. 5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6. I am weary with my groaning: all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8. 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 sore vexed; let them return and be ashamed suddenly. Introduction: I. The superscription to this psalm reads: For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to Sheminith. A psalm of David. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 A. The expression, According to, set to the Shemimith, is said to mean set to the eighth which may refer to a certain tune. (Coffman) 1. Knight observed that there are eight notes to an octave. 2. There is no present knowledge of the exact application of this word, Sheminith. II. This psalm is classified as one of the seven Penitential Psalms, namely, 6, 32, 38, 51, 102 and 143. (Coffman) A. David s illness may have produced a feeling of guilt because it was generally thought that illness was the result of sin. (Coffman) 1. It was thought that Men suffered in proportion to their sins. (Rhodes via Coffman) 2. John 9:1-3, And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 3. Job 4:7-9, Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breadth of his nostrils are they consumed. III. Smith suggested that David probably wrote this Psalm some time after his sin with Bathsheba, but before Absalom s rebellion. IV. This Psalm, Smith wrote, has three major divisions; viz.,

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 A. earnest appeal (verses 1-5) B. extreme anguish (verses 6, 7) C. expected answer (verses 8-10) Commentary: Psalm 6:1, O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. I. O (Jehovah) Lord,... (NIV)` II. do not rebuke me in your anger... (NIV) A. David is aware of some grievous sin he has committed and pleads for God to punish him in love, not anger. (Pulpit Commentary) 1. Jeremiah 10:24, O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. III. do not discipline me in your wrath. (NIV) (hot displeasure). A. David s illness was evidently very serious and prolonged. B. David considered his illness to be the result of personal sin. Psalm 6:2, Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. I. O Lord, (NIV) II. Be merciful to me, for I am (languishing) faint; (NIV) (weak)...

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 A. David did not cry for justice; he cried for mercy. It is mercy and not justice that all of us need. (DeHoff via Coffman) B. His sickness seems to be a combination of pain, weariness, pessimism, boredom and just sheer weakness. In a word, he is a very sick man. (Knight) C. David admitted he was weak, faint, withered away like a faded plant or flower. (Pulpit Commentary) D. The mind of the psalmist lingers on thoughts of death rapidly approaching. (Tesh and Zorn) III. heal me, for my bones are (vexed) in agony. (NIV) A. Bones represent the whole physical body. (Smith) B. The illness here is that sort of bodily ailment which is often produced by mental distress. (Pulpit Commentary) 1. Psalm 22:14, I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 2. Psalm 31:10, For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 3. Psalm 38:3, There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4. Psalm 102:3, For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 C. The psalmist is saying: I am terrified body and soul. (Tesh and Zorn) 1. In this way the psalmist expresses the extreme gravity of his condition. (Tesh and Zorn) Psalm 6:3, My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? I. My soul is (sore vexed) in anguish. (NIV) A. John 12:27, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour. B. Knight observed that soul and life in Hebrew are the same word. (nephesh). C. Clearly the main emphasis is intended to be laid on the mental suffering. (Pulpit Commentary) D. Soul, in this context, indicates the inner being. (Tesh & Zorn) II. How long, O Lord, how long? (NIV) A. How long, Smith wrote, may refer to David s suffering, God s anger and/or to God s appearing to refuse to hear his prayer. 1. Psalm 35:17, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 2. Psalm 79:5, How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 3. Psalm 89:46, How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? 4. Habakkuk 1:2, O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 5. Psalm 90:13, Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. B. This is a cry of despair, yet also of hope. (Tesh & Zorn) Psalm 6:4, Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies sake. I. O Lord, (NIV) II. Turn (return) and (spare my life) deliver me; (NIV) A. David pled with God to return to him for it appears to David that God had abandoned him. (Smith) 1. Psalm 22:1, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why are thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2. Psalm 80:14, Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 3. Psalm 90:13, Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. B. Nothing is so hard to endure as the feeling of being deserted by God. (Pulpit Commentary)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 III. save me because of your unfailing love. (NIV)... thy lovingkindness sake. A. All mortals must approach God, not upon the basis of their worth, their innocence or their merit, but solely upon the basis of God s mercy, God s grace, and God s lovingkindness. (Coffman) B. The psalmist feels himself so wretched in soul and body, that he believes himself to be near death. (Pulpit Commentary) Psalm 6:5, For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I. No one remembers you when he is dead. (NIV) A. Psalm 16:9, 10, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. B. Hebrews 11:19, Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. C. Isaiah 26:19, Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. D. Daniel 12:2, 3, And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 E. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed in the immorality of the soul. (Knight) F. John 11:25, 26, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? II. Death ends a person s active service on earth for God. A. Psalm 30:9, What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? B. Psalm 88:11, Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? C. Psalm 115:17, 18, The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever more. Praise the Lord. D. Psalm 118:17, I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. E. Isaiah 38:18, For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. III. (No one)/who praises you from the grave? (Sheol) (NIV) A. Sheol is the grave, the unseen abode of the dead. (Smith) B. This verse does not support soul sleeping nor soul annihilation. (Smith)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 1. Psalm 13:3, Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; C. This verse does teach that departed saints can no longer serve God on earth because they are no longer on earth. Psalm 6:6, I am weary with my groaning: all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. I. I am (weary) worn out from groaning;... (NIV) A. David s sorrow, grief was deep and of long duration. (Smith) Tesh & Zorn) B. The Oriental habit of giving vent to grief in loud lamentations must be remembered. (Pulpit Commentary) II. all night long I flood my bed with weeping... (NIV) A. David s tears indicate the depth of his remorse for the sin(s) he believed had produced his illness. B. Spurgeon quoting Watson via Coffman wrote, It is not so much the weeping eye that God respects as the broken heart. C. 2 Corinthians 7:10, For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. III. (all night long I) drench my (bed) couch with tears. (NIV) Psalm 6:7, Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. I. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 A. Psalm 31:9, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. B. My eyes waste away because of grief. (Tesh & Zorn) II. they fail because of all my foes. (NIV) A. How often has it been noted that nothing so much ages a man as grief! (Pulpit Commentary) Psalm 6:8, Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. Note: With this verse the tone of Psalm 6 suddenly changed. I. (Depart) Away from me (Be gone!), all you who do evil,...(niv) A. Matthew 7:23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. B. Luke 13:27, But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. C. Getting rid of evil companions is a very necessary step in any man s repentance. (Coffman) D. David was suddenly conscious of God s gracious forgiveness. Many a person, like David, has repented, and risen from his knees to attain new heights of power and achievement. (Coffman) II. for the Lord has heard (the voice of) my weeping (supplication). (NIV) A. David is fully persuaded that God has heard his prayer.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 B. In the midst of his defeat, there was victory; from the depths of a tomb, there was resurrection; out of death came life forevermore. (Tesh and Zorn) Psalm 6:9, The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. I. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; (NIV) II. The Lord accepts my prayer. (NIV) Psalm 6:10, Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed; let them return and be ashamed suddenly. I. All my enemies will be ashamed and (sore vexed) dismayed; (NIV) A. David s enemies who had found delight because of his sufferings now stand amazed in view of God s grace which produced David s full recovery! (Smith) II. they will turn back in sudden disgrace. (NIV) A. Luke 21:17, And ye shall be hated of all men for my name s sake. B. 2 Timothy 3:12, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. C. David s enemies who had been on the attack now are in full retreat!

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 References Coffman, James Burton, Psalms, Volumes 1 and 2, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, 1992. Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, National Publishing Company, The Gideons International, Nashville, 1979. Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 19530. Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1989. Knight, George A.F., The daily Bible Study Series, Psalms, Volume 1, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1982. Smith, James E., The Wisdom Literature and Psalms, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1996. Tesh, S. Edward and Zorn, Walter D., Psalms, Volume 1, The College Press NIV Commentary, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1999. Youngblood, Ronald F., Bruce, F.F., and Harrison, R. K., Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1995.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 Questions Psalm 6:1-10 1. Who wrote Psalm 6? Under what circumstances was it written? 2. Explain the meaning of the superscription of Psalm 6. What use did the Israelites make of this psalm? 3. What is a Penitential Psalm? Which psalms are classified as penitential? 4. Do humans suffer in proportion to their sins? Explain your answer. _

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 5. How can Psalm 6 be outlined, divided? 6. For what did David pray in verse 1? 7. For what did David pray in verse 2? For what did he not pray? 8. Describe David s health at the time this psalm was written. 9. Define bones and agony as used in verse 2.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 10. Define soul as used in verse 3. 11. To what does how long refer in verse 3? 12. What circumstances have caused you to pray, How long, O Lord, how long? 13. Did David feel God had forsaken him? Had God forsaken him? Explain your answer. 14. When, if ever, have you felt God had forsaken you?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 15. On what basis did David pray God to save him? On what basis can we expect God to save us? On what basis can we not expect God to save us? 16. What does, No one remembers you when he is dead. mean? What does it not mean? 17. Explain, No one praises you from the grave. 18. s, was of and of. s indicate the of his for the he believed had his. It is not so much the that respects as the.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 19. When have you been so distressed that you could not sleep and wept all night long? What was the cause of your distress? What was the cause of David s distress? 20. What caused David s vision problems? Was this vision problem literal or figurative? Explain. 21. What sudden change in tone takes place beginning with verse 8? 22. What accounted for this change in tone? 23. How did David s enemies react to this change in circumstances?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 24. Did David rejoice, feel relief or both at the sudden disgrace of his enemies? 25. Are you happy when your enemies suffer misfortune? How would Jesus feel if he were in your situation?