Psalms 6

Psalms 6THEME: A cry for mercyThe man in this psalm has looked all about him and has seen the wickedness on every hand. He has also looked in his own heart and recognized that he is not perfect before God at all. If the previous psalms and prayers had to do with morning and evening, this psalm has to do with the darkest night. This psalm is addressed to “The chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith.” We are introduced to a new term sheminith. It means “upon the octave,” and there are those who believe it should be sung by male voices. Psalms 5 is an imprecatory psalm, and Psalms 6 is a penitential psalm, a cry of repentance, and plea for mercy.

Psalms 6:1

The psalmist sees his own need. When he does, there is a wonderful cry of repentance. Next we have his confession.

Psalms 6:5

I think we have here a picture of David, and I think we have a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. I think it is also a picture of Israel in the last days, and a picture of believers right nowyou and me. What a psalm this is! This is a cry for mercy out of the very depths of despair. Only mercy can save us. We are told over and over again in the New Testament that God is rich in mercy. He has had to use a lot of His mercy on me, but He has some left over for you. He has plenty of mercy, and we certainly need it. Isa_52:14 says of the Lord Jesus, “…his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.” In Psa_69:3 the Lord says, “I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” Again in Psa_42:3 the Lord says, “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” In Psa_38:10 He says, “My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.” Finally, in Psa_88:9 the Lord says, “Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.” In all of these expressions, and I have given you only a very small segment, the Spirit of Christ speaks prophetically of His own suffering through which He would pass in the days of His humiliation. His people, the nation Israel, that remnant in the Great Tribulation, will also pass through suffering. Today many of God’s saints are passing through it. The great comfort is that He has been through it. These are the things that He has suffered, that He endured. Regardless of what you are going through today, He has already been through it, and He can comfort you. How wonderful it is to have a Savior like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalms 6:8

Here is the answer to prayer:

Psalms 6:9

In Heb_5:7 we are told concerning the Lord Jesus, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” That is our confidence today. God will hear and answer our prayer when we are in deep trouble. Isn’t that a comfort to you, friend? You may be in a very hard place right at the moment. If you are, this psalm is for you.