Psalms 6
Big idea: The first of the seven psalms the church came to call penitential, and it is mostly a body in distress: bones troubled, eyes wasted with grief, a bed flooded every night. The argument the psalmist makes is startling and entirely honest — in death there is no memory of you; in Sheol, who shall give you thanks? He is telling God that a dead worshipper is no use to him. And then, without any change in circumstances reported, the tone breaks: Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.
Psalm 6 ends with weeping heard. Psalm 7 is a man asking to be examined rather than comforted.
6:1–10 — Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping
A body in distress, and the psalm keeps its evidence physical: bones, eyes, a bed flooded nightly. Then it makes an argument that is startling to read and entirely honest — a dead worshipper is no use to God, so mercy is in God's own interest. Nothing in the circumstances is reported to change. But at verse 8 the voice does, three times over, and the psalm offers no account of why. That silence is the most useful thing about it.
1 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath. 2 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul is also in great anguish. But you, Yahweh—how long? 4 Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake. 5 For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping. 9 Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer. 10 May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).