Psalm 6:1-10 NKJV
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.
6 O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?
4 Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
5 For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?
6 I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
Psalm 6 is a poignant cry for mercy from a soul deeply afflicted by the weight of sin and the dread of God’s righteous anger. Martin Luther, in his “Summaries of the Psalms” (1531), describes this psalm as a lamentation over the hidden, yet profound, suffering of a conscience tormented by the law and the wrath of God. This agony, he notes, is akin to the “bonds of death” and the “ropes of hell,” a state where faith and hope are severely tested.
In our confessional Lutheran tradition, we understand the severe torment that sin can bring upon the conscience. The psalmist’s cry, “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure,” reflects a heart overwhelmed by guilt and fear, yet still clinging to God in desperate prayer.
Thus, this psalm provides a trustworthy example for those in similar affliction, demonstrating that their prayers are indeed heard by God. The psalmist’s journey from despair to reassurance—”The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer”—offers hope to all who feel the weight of their sins and fear God’s wrath.
For Confessional Lutherans, this psalm underscores the importance of the first and second commandments, highlighting our reliance on God alone and our need to call upon His name in times of distress. It aligns with the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name,” as we seek God’s mercy and deliverance, trusting in His steadfast love.
In our moments of deep spiritual anguish, Psalm 6 invites us to pour out our hearts to God, confident that He hears our cries. It reassures us that even in our most troubled times, we are not abandoned. Our faith and hope, though tested, will be upheld by God’s unfailing grace.
Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.