Psalm 6: Have Mercy on Me in My Trouble“I drench my couch with my tears.”
He has just finished a sleepless night. He has had all kinds of
sad thoughts about his troubles. He has cried buckets. But
in his crying, he has still been calling on God.
He calls wondering why things are so bad. He knows that he needs
a lot of help.
No matter what our needs are—even if it is the need for mercy due to
sin—there is a God in heaven who will hear. This psalm is listed
often as a penitential psalm (That is, he is repenting in deep remorse
over sin. See also Psalms 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).
There are five distinct points here. The first four are descriptions
of the burden he feels; the fifth is his grateful acceptance of Jehovah’s
answer.
“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled”
(vv. 1,2).
Here we are told, “I was in need.” The possibility of God’s anger
and displeasure was real, so he needed Jehovah to lean down and be kind
(“have mercy”). He was troubled through and through (“my bones are
troubled”). Mercy could change this condition:
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness was to the soul and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).
“My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?
Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!” (vv. 3,4).
Here we are told, “I could not see the end.” When Jesus was facing
the worst “hour” in history, He used words that are similar to Psalm 6:3,4.
In John 12:27, He said,
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from
this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”
Sometimes troubles either seem so bad, or they really are so bad, that
we cannot see the end of them. It is then that we need mercy.
Here, the word “mercies” is the same word for God’s “lovingkindess.”
It is that characteristic of Jehovah which is most needed by us and which
He has the greatest desire to bestow upon us. He does not desire
to be angry—He desires to be merciful! And marvel of marvels, He
has enough of this for every moment of every person’s life (II Peter 3:9;
Exodus 34:7,8; Lamentations 3:20-22).
But if we do not come to Him on His terms...
“For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?
I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears” (vv. 5,6).
Here, we are told, “I was losing hope.” Through the night, he
did not sleep. He thought of the idea of the hopelessness of resolving
anything after death. He wept. He wept so much that his bed
was wet, his “couch” was drenched. His groaning was so strong that
it wearied him. Such thoughts, griefs, and weariness has the power
to eliminate the possibility of the relief we get from rest.
“My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of
my weeping” (vv. 7,8).
Here, we are told, “I was surrounded.” Even if it is not entirely
accurate, such a night allows us to believe that there are enemies in every
part of the room, and in every room in the house. David was frequently
surrounded by real enemies—armies, family, his sins, and the general wickedness
of the world.
But in this section, we begin to see that the Psalm will not end the
way it started, for in verse 8, he tells the enemies to LEAVE, because
“Jehovah has heard the voice of my weeping.”
“The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and
greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly”
(vv. 9,10).
Here we are told, “I am fine now.” Earlier Psalms have taught
us to pray in the evening and in the morning. But between those is
the NIGHT. Here, we have learned how to get through even the worst
of nights.
God has heard, God has received, God will take care of the enemies,
so I AM FINE NOW.
Of course I am fine! In His hands, how else could things possibly
turn out?
See Romans 8:28-39.
— Skip Andrews
One Year
It has been one year since Bobby Wood came to Duluth and assisted us in
appointing elders. It has been a very good year for the elders due
to the grace
of God and you as a very cooperative congregation. We thank Him and
you.
Many wonderful things have taken place that have allowed us to move on-
ward and upward in the service of our King.
Please continue to pray for us, communicate with us, and cooperate with
one
another so that we can bring glory to God in the church by Christ Jesus
until the
end of time (Ephesians 3:14-21).
SICK LIST: Donna Fields is not doing well following her latest chemotherapy
.
Shenyne, Clarence III and Enisha Donley, Frances Wallace, Jessica Johnson,
Nathan Lanier, Carolyn Burnette, and Jane Graham have been ill. Margie
Chadwick’s daughter, Debbie, will have surgery Friday to have a pace maker.
Euple Calvert is recovering well from surgery on her shoulder.
GROUP FOUR: Plantation South at 1:30; meet up front for visitation assign-
ments following evening services.
SING: 5:30 Sunday.
CHILDREN’S CLASS: 5:30 Sunday.
LADIES’ CLASS: Ladies’ class will meet Tuesday at 10:00.
PANTRY ITEM: Spaghetti & Sauce.
FOR THE RECORD:
Sunday Bible Class 119
Sunday AM Worship 140
Sunday PM Worship 100
Wednesday Bible Class 93
Contribution $4885
Budget $4600
COVERED DISH DINNER: Plan to join us Sunday following morning services
for a meal. We encourage everyone to stay and enjoy this time together.
Group 2 will host.
EGG HUNT: Everyone is invited to the Andrews’ Sunday, April 4, following
evening services for an egg hunt
Verse of the Week: “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may
live:
and let me not be ashamed of my hope” (Psalm 119:116).