Psalm 6

Again, this is a Psalm of David.  And again, he is in trouble.  And again he is beset by enemies (v10), the “workers of iniquity” (v8; cf. 5:5).  The pain is severe, to the point where he feels he is on the verge of death (v5).  But apparently the workers of iniquity are only the antagonists of the man of God who struggles; as in Ps. 42:1-3 they may see him suffer and taunt him asking “where is your God?”  The man believes he is to blame for what he believes is chastening from the Lord (v1).  Thus his “soul” is greatly troubled (v3). 

How can one ask for deliverance from what is ‘deserved’.  If we have concluded that our pain is God’s righteous response to sin, or His reproof to bring us to greater Christlikeness, are we ever “justified” to cry out, ‘O Lord, how long’ (v3)?

If by ‘justification’ we are asking if we can ever tell God our pain is unfair, we are definitely barking up the wrong tree.  We neither have sufficient knowledge of God or of ourselves to ever make that judgment.  Job, in all his integrity, found out he was asking the wrong question when he wanted to know why he suffered as the wicked should.  The same was true of Asaph in Psalm 73.  To think that ‘fairness’ is the motivating factor in God’s work in our lives will lead us to wrong conclusions every time;.  God is just and right, but He alone understands what is, in fact, just and right.

Instead, the saint pleads on the basis of mercy (v2 is hanna, mercy; ,4 is chased, goodness or lovingkindness).  He comes to God as the compassionate One, a near-synonym to mercy.  He does not plead his rights or ‘just desserts.’  Rather he acknowledges “I am weak” (v2).  He describes his tearful nights (v6-7).  To come to God on this basis is to call on God to exalt Himself, to act for His Name’s sake (v4).  Indeed God Himself has said His name begins with “mercy” (Ex. 34:6).  It is the recurring theme of the fundamental perfections of God’s character.

But also note that the Psalmist comes because he desires to glorify God (v6).  If he dies then he will be deprived of the earthly opportunity to exalt the Name.  Think about this.  We may believe the Psalmist should accept death, relishing the opportunity to give God perfect praise for eternity.  But our privileged position is to give praise to Him, in the presence of a sinful world.  This is of great value.  This is truly a “sacrifice of praise” (Heb. 13:15).  For this reason we need and understand and accept the Lord’s chastening as His love (Heb. 12:3-11).

Don’t plead God’s justice (fairness).  Truly fairness could have left us without a Savior.  But God is merciful, has shown mercy in the cross of Christ, and will show mercy to His beloved ones for His names sake.  That kind of ‘justification’ will give us a standing whereby we will not be subject to those who ridicule us and our God.  We will have a basis for faith which will be assured that God hears and receives our prayer (v8-10).