The Lord has an answer to your tears, your trouble, your weariness, your enemies, your grief, your shame, your sin.
There’s a context to Psalm 6. It’s King David—and he’s not sure. He’s not sure how his reign will end. He’s not sure if it will be through a peaceful transfer to his son Solomon. David is in need. Aren’t we all?
There’s also another context. This Psalm was often read or sung on a day of penitence in the church. This is the church’s cry. It’s always the church’s cry. “Rebuke me not…nor discipline me in your wrath…be gracious…heal. How long. O LORD. How long.”
There’s another context—in America, on the heels of a general election. I imagine you have been on the giving and receiving end of unsolicited opinions about this election cycle. As one of my friends says bluntly: “Get over yourself. Whoever is elected, I’m quite sure they’re more equipped for the job than you.”
There’s another context. I just had a birthday. Who said middle-aged isn’t exciting? And there’s the context of those I know and love and serve, with all of their joys and challenges, ups and downs. Psalm 6 speaks to them.
Psalm 6 speaks to you, too.
“O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled… I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes” (Ps. 6:1-3, 6-7).
What drives you to languishing? Enemies? Physical weakness? Awareness of sin?
“How Long, Lord?” I’ve cried. You’ve cried. We’ve all cried. “Enough, Lord, Enough.” The repetition hits home. This struggle is real.
And it’s not just the what, it’s the whom, or better, the to whom. Where else was David going to go? Where else would you go? There is but one, who loved him in such a way, to invite this conversation.
His name is Jesus. Such a sweet name, and the very reason for his conversation. His voice is why I cry out, the very one who asked: “What shall I say, save me from this hour? This is why I came.” The one whom all enemies will be made a footstool under his feet. One crucified and risen Lord Jesus.
For David.
For Americans after a general election.
For middle-aged men.
For those I love in my context
For you.
Some critics will argue that the abrupt change at the end of the Psalm is too much; it couldn’t possibly be the same author.
“ The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.” (Ps. 6:9-10).
And yet, what could possibly turn David? Only a good word, only a word of promise, only one who answers the prayer “O Lord–How Long?”
The Lord has an answer to your tears, your trouble, your weariness, your enemies, your grief, your shame, your sin.
The Lord has heard your plea. The Lord accepts your prayer.
