<![CDATA[psalmthing to chew on: psalm 6]]>this feels like a tired and weary cry from someone who is simply begging God, with his last ounce of energy to “please, just give me a break” or to “go easy on me”

the beginning of the psalm sets the tone which carries throughout the piece. it says ‘for the director of music’ but you can’t see Hillsongs or Jesus Culture turning this into a fan favourite. It feels really a lot more like a ‘just God and me’ prayer altho i imagine so many people reading this have related so strongly from time to time:

LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?

what is nice about the psalms is that david [along with other writers] doesn’t always use ‘the right words’ or focus on how the prayer is heard – he often just spews it out and gives us permission by doing so, to do the same… this psalm for me is a little bit like God whispering, “It’s okay that you don’t have it all together… that’s kind of what I’m here for.”

Echoes of 1 Peter 5.7 which says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” as well as a sneak preview of what is to come in Psalm 34.18 where “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

And it finished with the words, ‘for the Lord has heard my weeping,’ ‘the Lord has head my cry for mercy,’ and ‘the Lord accepts my prayer.’

So as weak and struggling as he is, he still knows Who he is crying out to and how He will respond… which is full of hope.

[To continue on to Psalm 7, click here]

[To return to the start of this series on Psalms as well as some other Bible things, click here]

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