Psalm 6 - Day 6

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.^[a] A psalm of David.

^[b]1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
   or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
   heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.
   How long, LORD, how long?

⁴ Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
   save me because of your unfailing love.
⁵ Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
   Who praises you from the grave?

⁶ I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
   and drench my couch with tears.
⁷ My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
   they fail because of all my foes.

⁸ Away from me, all you who do evil,
   for the LORD has heard my weeping.
⁹ The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
   the LORD accepts my prayer.
¹⁰ All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
   they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

This makes me think David is crying out in pain for just being here on earth. He is begging God to get him out of this place and away from all this misery. Verses 4-5; Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love...Who praises you from the grave? Sometimes it does feel like we are withering away here just waiting for the day to be with the Lord. Waiting for the Lord to hear our cries of pain and suffering. Those cries might not be to get us away from earth, but for other things as well.

Doesn't it make you think sometimes all the stuff we do here on earth is minute anyway? It's not going to matter in the long run what school we decide to go to, what car we buy or what's for dinner. But in the mean time, while we wait for that glorious day, we have to do the best we can to serve Him here on earth.

I'm sure David was going through a real rough time when he wrote this. I would have ran out of tears after my pillow was wet let alone my whole bed. You can really feel his pain and anguish in this prayer. I wonder what kind of person he was like to be around during this? Were his friends scared for him? Wondering what was wrong? Did they try to reach out to him? Or did they join in prayer with him?

Do we have people in our lives who are crying out for help? How can we comfort them and help them feel God's presence and joy? Let's be challenged to have open eyes and see through the mask most people wear.