Psalm 6

In our study of Psalm 6, we look at the fact that, not only was David a man of prayer, but he also knew that God would hear and answer them.

Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.

For The director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

We see, in this introduction, that this was a song with accompanying music played on stringed instruments. There are those that do not allow instruments to be used in worship as a sort of badge of piety but, if it was good enough for King David, it should be alright for us.

Psalm 6:1-3

For the leader. With stringed instruments. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David: Adonai, don’t rebuke me in your anger, don’t discipline me in the heat of your fury. Be gracious to me, Adonai, because I am withering away; heal me, Adonai, because my bones are shaking; I am completely terrified; and you, Adonai — how long?

You can almost feel the groaning as David calls out to the Lord. We notice that he does not come to God on the basis of his works as he cries out for God to be merciful to him. That is a good reminder for us, in that, we do not go to God with our requests based on things that we have done but on the basis of what Christ has done for us. We see David ask "how long?" as he had been praying for deliverance from his enemies for some time and yet was still being attacked. This is a reminder to us, as well, that God has His own timing and purposes. He may not answer our prayers in the way that we would like or in our time frame but we can rest assured that He will answer and His answer will be what is best for His children.

Psalm 6:4

Come back, Adonai, and rescue me! Save me for the sake of your grace;

David appeals to God to rescue him from his enemies because of God's love and not because of anything that he has done. David's enemy, here, was men chasing him but it was the devil who was the real enemy behind it. Like David, our real enemy is the devil who seeks to destroy us but we have the answer when we appeal to God's love as demonstrated through His Son. This has been a constant battle for men to accept the fact that God will save us not because of what we have done but because of who He is.

Psalm 6:5

for in death, no one remembers you; in Sh’ol, who will praise you?

David appeals to God with reason but it is not as if he is telling God something that He doesn't know. The purpose of all mankind is to praise and worship God. David can be encouraged by remembering that and knowing that those who praise Him will not be forsaken.

Psalm 6:6 & 7

I am worn out with groaning; all night I drench my bed with tears, flooding my couch till it swims. My vision is darkened with anger; it grows weak because of all my foes.

David tells us that, even though he knows that God will take care of him, he still has struggled. It seems that he struggled with the difference between his timing and God's time. During our struggles, we often wonder why God does not just fix things at the start but instead allows us to struggle for a time. We, like David, must simply trust in God and realize that His timing is perfect.

Psalm 6:8 & 9

Get away from me, all you workers of evil! For Adonai has heard the sound of my weeping, Adonai has heard my pleading, Adonai will accept my prayer.

David knew that God would listen and answer his prayers. He knew this because he understood his relationship with God. It seems that, in our time, prayer has become a popular thing as we hear all kinds of people talk about praying. But, many forget that the ability to pray to God is based on our right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 6:10

All my enemies will be confounded, completely terrified; they will turn back and be suddenly put to shame.

David knew that God would protect him from his enemies because of his relationship with God. It is good for us to remember that God takes care of His own even today just as He did for David. This can help us to praise God even through the difficult times.