Bible Commentaries
Psalms 6

Verses 1-10

Psalms 6

A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE

Verses 1-10:

First Penitential Psalm

This is the first of seven Penitential Psalms, as follow: 1) Psalms 6; Psalms 2) Psalms 32; Psalms 3) Psalms 38; Psalms 4) Psalms 51; Psalms 5) Psalms 102; Psalms 6) Psalms 130; Psalms , 7) Psalms 143. In this first Penitential Psalm it is evident that the tears David shed over Absalom’s rebellion were permitted by the Lord as a consequence of his own sin, calling him to repentance, 2 Samuel 18:33.

Verse 1 is a direct prayer appeal for the Lord to refrain from rebuking him in His wrath and chastening him in His (heated) "displeasure." There is a chastisement of anger (wrath) and a chastisement of mercy and grace. The former is punitive for punishment and the latter is love, because of love, designed to purify and restore God’s love as he repented and resolved to turn back to God in his personal and public deportment, Hebrews 12:7; Hebrews 12:9-11.

Verse 2 recounts David’s cry for the Lord to have or show mercy upon him because he was weak. His former ideas of power and pride were gone. Through his sufferings he had come to be broken and crushed in body and soul; He had drooped like a blighted or wilted plant, become helpless as a wet "noodle." He cried for mercy, confessing that his bones were vexed, crumbled, without strength, broken in health. In this state of physical despair of body-health he cried, "O Lord heal me," Hosea 6:1. And such a cry "He will not despise" or take lightly, as declared Psalms 34:18.

Verse 3, 4 continue David’s prayer of repentance. Not only was his body broken, crushed, or weakened but also his soul was "sore vexed," crushed with remorse, regret for his sins. And he acknowledged that this torment of his soul, this ever haunting nightmare of conscious guilt, was from God who would not let him have rest, even in sleep, as the spirit pricked his soul, Psalms 90:13; Proverbs 18:14; Matthew 26:38.
Verse 4, he cried out, "return, come quickly to my rescue, O Lord, deliver or liberate my soul (from this taunting guilt of sin). Save me for thy mercies’ sake," not my merit. For "He is plenteous in mercy," Psalms 86:5.

Verse 5 reveals that in death, those who go to the grave, unforgiven, unsaved, or unredeemed have no more memories or recall of the Lord’s convicting their conscience to call them to repentance, no more hope of ever experiencing His mercies again. In the grave none can give thanks for the loving chastening of the Lord that calls them to repentance and restoration to God’s favor. After death none can find a place for repentance for unforgiven sins, or for praising the Lord, Psalms 115:17; One should do it now, Psalms 118:17; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Isaiah 38:18-20. Death, hell, and the grave have been conquered by the Lord so that His children need have no fear of either, from which each is guaranteed deliverance, John 5:28-29; Romans 8:11; Revelation 1:18.

Verse 6 declares that David, out of regret and penitent remorse for his sins, was weary with groaning, that through all the night he made his bed to swim (with tears), watering his couch with wet, pouring or soaking tears from a broken and contrite heart. He was near drowned in sorrow. It is when a wayward child of God is so broken that God’s chastening is softened, as one yields to the discipline of His grace. Let every sinner realize that when one knocks at the door of the Lord with prayers, groans, and tears of repentance, crying out for mercy and pardon, "to everyone that repeatedly, earnestly, honestly knocks, it shall be opened to him," Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10.

Verse 7 adds that David’s eye (eyesight) was consumed, blurred, or darkened because of his grief over Absalom’s betrayal of him, which he, no doubt was assured in conscience was a chastening of love for his own former sins, to call him to a path of continuing upright before God and before Israel as her king, 1 John 1:8.

Verses 8, 9 call for all of David’s enemies to depart, withdraw from the insurrection against him, because he had a message from the Lord. The Lord had heard or given heed to his weeping repentance and supplication, forgiven all his sins, removed the burden of guilt and received his prayer. It was an happy hour when the sun arose at morning, a day of gracious forgiveness and favor with God, as expressed Psalms 3:4; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 40:1-2; Psalms 66:19-20; Psalms 118:5; Psalms 120:1; Psalms 138:3.

Verse 10 exhibits all David’s enemies to be ashamed and emotionally crumble at their betrayal of and treachery against him as God’s anointed king of Israel. He desires that, and calls on them to be ashamed and return to him suddenly, forthwith, as he had to the Lord, v. 4; Psalms 40:1-3