Psalm 6

Psalm 6 I. This is one of the Penitential Psalms, others being Psalms 32, 38, 51, 130. II. Although David does not specifically mention his iniquities, he is describing one who has sinned and is under judgment. c/w PSA 38:1-10. A. The Psalmist feels himself an object of God's intense anger. 1. God's wrath is revealed against sin. ROM 1:18. 2. God's wrath is VERY dreadful. NAH 1:6; PSA 76:7; ISA 57:16; HEB 10:30-31. B. He confesses weakness which results from sin. PSA 31:10. C. His bones and his soul were sore vexed, that is, afflicted. 1. Sin causes physical and psychological problems. 2. Sin is a disease in need of healing. 1PE 2:24. D. He was out of fellowship with God as His prayer for God's return indicates. JDG 16:20; 1SAM 28:15; 2CH 15:2. E. He was in danger of death. JAM 1:15. III. God had become his enemy. 1SAM 28:16; ISA 63:10; REV 2:16; JER 30:12-17; LEV 26:40-41. IV. He plead God's mercy as the ground of His salvation. v. 2. A. mercy: Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected. B. His hope lay in the character of God rather than in himself. C. There is more of mercy in God's chastenings than in the tender mercies of the wicked. 2SAM 24:13-14 c/w PRO 12:10. V. He reasoned that should he die, he could not remember and worship God (v. 5 c/w PSA 88:10-12). His reason for wanting to live was not selfish. VI. He mourned until he was exhausted and wasted. vs. 6-7. A. He cried his eyes out. Have you ever been in this state because of sin? B. This shows him to be actually a blessed man with comforts awaiting him. MAT 5:3-4. VII. The Psalmist had enemies. vs. 8-10. A. Our sins give our adversaries an occasion against us. 1TI 5:14; 2SAM 12:14. B. Our enemies look for us to slip. PSA 41:4-8; 64:6; ISA 29:20-21. C. They look upon our falls as a justification for their rejection of our holy religion. D. God will deal with our enemies who rejoiced when we were judged for our sins. OBA 1:12. E. We are not Christians because of what Christians do; we are Christians because of what Christ has done! 1. (PRO 24:16) For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 2. (PSA 37:23-24) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 6 10-25-15 Page 1 of 2 VIII. Toward the end of the Psalm, David is restored to fellowship. vs. 8-10. A. God does not keep His anger against us forever. PSA 103:8-14. B. David now bids the wicked depart and so takes sides with the Lord, Who will say these very words to the wicked in the day of judgment. MAT 7:23; 25:41. C. He who was at enmity with God is now God's friend. He and God are now at enmity with the wicked. D. Christ's redemptive work removes us from the wicked and places us on the side of God. REV 5:9-10. E. Being restored to fellowship, David now has the assurance of salvation and is confident that His prayers have been and will be heard. 1JO 3:18-22; 5:14. IX. The shame and vexation that David felt will be felt by his enemies. v. 10. A. Being reconciled to God, God's wrath now acts for us rather than against us. ROM 8:31; DEU 32:43. B. The wicked will return. 1. The Hebrew word translated “return” means “turn back” and is so rendered in PSA 9:3. See also LUK 17:15, 18. 2. Our enemies who pursue us will be turned back and perish. 2CH 32:21; ISA 42:17. C. The wicked will be ashamed suddenly. PRO 6:15; 29:1; LUK 18:7-8; 1TH 5:3. D. Whose side are you on? See PSA 85:4-9. Psalm 6 10-25-15 Page 2 of 2