Posted on 09/28/2010 5:10:04 PM PDT by HarleyD
Psa 6:1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
Psa 6:2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
Psa 6:3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD--how long?
Psa 6:4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
Psa 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?
Psa 6:6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
Psa 6:7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
Psa 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
Psa 6:9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.
Psa 6:10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
Psalms Ping.
Please add me to your reformed ping list? :)
Added and welcome.
This is a rather interesting Psalm. How often we think Christians should be happy every hour/every day and, if not, then there must be something wrong with us or our spiritual lives.
I love the Psalms because by reading them, singing them and praying them, we can express emotions from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. God gives us a patter in His Word to express all of our innermost feelings. Who knows us better than He does?
“Please add me to your reformed ping list? :)”
Me Too.
Calvin's favourite exclamation was, "Domine usquequo"—O Lord, how long? Nor could his sharpest pains, during a life of anguish, force from him any other word. Surely this is the cry of the saints under the altar, "O Lord, how long?" And this should be the cry of the saints waiting for the millennial glories, "Why are his chariots so long in coming; Lord, how long?" Those of us who have passed through conviction of sin knew what it was to count our minutes hours, and our hours years, while mercy delayed its coming. We watched for the dawn of grace, as they that watch for the morning. Earnestly did our anxious spirits ask, "O Lord, how long?" —Treasury of David, The
This is a rather interesting Psalm. How often we think Christians should be happy every hour/every day and, if not, then there must be something wrong with us or our spiritual lives.
I've had 2 or 3 times in my adult life (not for a long time, thank God) when I've gone for extended periods hardly able to speak on account of depression, but I've never seen it as a particularly Christian failing.
Peripherally related, I suggest you read over Dan Phillips' Good News From a Far Country.
"Why are his chariots so long in coming; Lord, how long?"
Waiting for the fullness of the elect to come in.
This Psalm probably arose out of the circumstances mentioned in 2 Samuel 12:16, “David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.”
AMEN!
God isn’t waiting. We are.
Please add me to the list. Thanks!
Amen. We wait for the fulfillment of that which Christ obtained on Calvary.
Good perspective.
BTW-I keep meaning to add the history in case someone wishes to go back and read past Psalms and comments.
Psalms 1 - ESV
Psalms 2 - ESV
Psalms 3 - KJV
Psalms 4 –NASB
Psalms 5 – NASB
Thank you for that.
An interesting contrast to:
Even though it is said that God has "anger" toward sin, perhaps David is not asking to be spared discipline at all, but just to avoid the ultimate condemnation due to the non-elect sinner.
Hmmmmmm.....possibly. John Gills agrees with your interpretation. I see a very slight spin on this by different commentators. Calvin had another interpretation very similar to Gills and yours but with a slightly differnt view:
These verses speak the language of a heart truly humbled under humbling providences, of a broken and contrite spirit under great afflictions, sent on purpose to awaken conscience and mortify corruption. Those heap up wrath who cry not when God binds them; but those are getting ready for mercy who, under God's rebukes, sow in tears, as David does here.
In Matthew Henry's view, Henry looks at it as part of David's humility that is the result of great affliction.
I had interpreted the verse similar to how Matthew Henry had interpreted it but slightly different. I see this as David backhandedly asking "lead me not into tempation". Knowing that we can be so easily swayed into sin, and the consequences it brings, by asking the Lord not to rebuke him David wasn't excusing himself from the chastening of God. Rather he was asking God (albeit, in a round about way) to help him live a pure life. Hence he states in verses 3-4:
My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
I would have to agree with you, Gill, Calvin, and Henry that David does appear to be vex. The question boils down to weather David had done something sinful and is looking back at his troubles as God's chastisement, or whether he was looking forward knowing that he is capable of doing something sinful and he understands where that will bring him.
Interesting, none of these interpretations (FK, Gill, Calvin, Henry, or HD) are wrong or right. In fact, they all get us to the same place, that we cry out for God's mercy when we sin knowing God's wrath for sin. They just presents different perspectives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.