See the Big Picture. Dig In. Live It Out: A 5-Day Reading Plan in Psalms 1-50Exemplo

The Big Picture

Psalm 6 is the first of seven psalms that Bible teachers often call “penitential psalms.” These are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The penitential psalms express sorrow for sin. Psalm 6 does not clarify the sin David committed or the circumstances surrounding it. Whatever the sin was, David appealed to God to stop disciplining him for having committed it. The psalm appears to indicate David’s enemies were somehow involved in the matter, possibly attempting to take advantage of him in his weakened state. 

However, it is possible, given its placement after Psalms 3–5 and before Psalm 7, David’s sin may have been an errant response to his enemies. It would be consistent with his “self-talk” we saw in Psalm 4:4 when David counseled himself to “Be angry, and do not sin,” given Psalm 7 is David’s plea for God to deliver him and judge his enemies. Since Psalm 7 is David’s appeal asking God to judge his enemies, the placement of Psalm 7 after Psalm 6 may serve both as corrective instruction countering David’s unwise attempt to take matters into his own hands and as a warning to those who fail to trust God to vindicate them by dealing with their enemies. In Psalm 7, David is innocent of any wrongdoing, perhaps evidence of God’s forgiveness in response to his sorrow for his sin expressed in Psalm 6. Whatever the situation, Psalms 6 and 7 demonstrate God will discipline his children whom he loves and can be trusted to judge the wicked.

Digging In

Psalm 6 begins with a plea for mercy from God and concludes with a statement of faith in God. David indicates the source of his difficulty was the Lord, himself, and the reason was God was disciplining him for some sin in David’s life. The word rebuke is the word yahkach in Hebrew and may refer to a court setting where one is judged. However, it also denotes the wise correction and instruction of a loving father as in Proverbs 3:12 which states, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” Here, verse 1 emphasizes this loving discipline. 

Nevertheless, the Lord’s sanctifying discipline can still seem endless and be difficult to endure (see Heb. 12:7–11). David was physically, emotionally, and spiritually affected by his sin and the Lord’s discipline. Consequently, recognizing his guilt and terrified of God’s anger, David begged the Lord to be gracious and have mercy on him. This is the only plea that sinners have before God. David needed the physical, emotional, spiritual healing that only God could provide. David recognized the one who disciplined him was the only one who could and would rescue him from the consequences of his sin. Furthermore, David knew that the Lord would save him because of the Lord’s hesed, his unwavering covenantal love for him. 

Nevertheless, David’s concern was not only for his own deliverance but also for the opportunity to boast in what the Lord has done by saving him. In verse 5, the “remembrance of” the Lord in parallel with thanking the Lord emphasizes David’s desire to praise the Lord for what he has done. How could David proclaim God’s faithfulness to his servant and praise the Lord before others if David were to perish? David’s prayer was based upon his faith in God’s steadfast love and David’s longing to praise him and declare the Lord is his salvation. 

Verses 6 and 7 indicate how David’s enemies intensified his suffering as he spent each night groaning and weeping in grief. Still, David was able to reject his enemies because the Lord has heard his weeping and cries for help. What’s more, David confidently knew the Lord was accepting his prayer (see Ps. 34:15–18). Verses 9 and 10 accentuate the reversal that will take place: David will be saved and his enemies will be the ones who shake with terror and be disgraced. 

Psalm 7 has six parts to it: 1) David cries for deliverance from his enemies (vv. 1–2); 2) David claims he is righteous (vv. 3–5); 3) David calls for God to vindicate him (vv. 6–8); 4) David characterizes God as righteous who saves the upright and judges those who fail to repent (vv. 9–13); 5) David comments on the ways of the wicked one and his ultimate demise (vv. 14–16); and 6) David concludes with thanks and praise to “the Lord Most High” (v. 17). 

Psalm 7 begins with “Lord” or Yahweh, God’s personal covenantal name, and concludes with “the Lord/Yahweh Most High.” All that David requested is viable because of the gracious covenant Yahweh made with his people. Everything in life begins and ends with this truth for the people of God. Accordingly, since the Lord is righteous and judges righteously, he is a refuge for the righteous. He saves, vindicates, and establishes them. However, the Lord is at war with the unrepentant, and the evil ways of the wicked one become his own undoing. Those who seek righteousness will reap righteousness, but the one who conceives trouble will reap “his own violence . . . on top of his head.” Consequently, David vows that he will thank the Lord for his righteousness and sing praises about him.

Living It Out

Psalms 6 and 7 both emphasize the detrimental effects of sin on a person’s life, even on the life of a believer. Loss is always the result of sin, either loss of eternal life for the unbeliever or the loss of intimacy and a sense of peace with God for the believer. God is so opposed to evil and so loving of his children that he will discipline his children to steer them away from evil and back to himself. So, we must desire to hate our sin as much as God hates it, repent when we have sinned, and praise God even in the midst of his discipline if our desire is to grow into the image of Christ. We must base our requests on the person and work of Jesus Christ, the gracious salvation we have in him and his faithfulness, and remember that he is worthy of our thanksgiving and praise, especially in the most difficult times of our lives. Additionally, the believer needs to trust God to judge the wicked at the right time and in the most appropriate way.

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We adapted this plan from another resource. Learn more at 40daysseries.net