Psalm 6 Continued…
As already noted, Psalm 6 was utilized even by the early church fathers as a psalm of penitence. This is important for us to understand how this psalm has been seen and thought of throughout the ages. Many fail to recognize that part of our faith is crying out to God for grace and mercy. We need to continually acknowledge our great need for God’s help as we admit our sinful state to Him. Confession is a critical part of our walk with God. And it is not to be a one and done event.
In verse three David cries out: “How long, O Lord, how long?” When you read through the psalms, there are times when the cry in anguish is “Why?” But when that anguish seems to not stop, that cry changes from “why” to “How long?”
Have you ever asked that question? Maybe you stated it this way: “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” I think we’ve been there. Although we really don’t know the circumstances that set this psalm up historically, we all identify with the feelings of David in this psalm.
How long, Lord, is my marriage going to stay in shambles? How long, Lord, will my child run from you? How long, Lord, am I going to have to deal with this illness?
And from those feelings of not knowing how much more you can take, I hope you see a sudden turn of faith, like David in this Psalm. Look at how abruptly the focus changes in verse 8:
“Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” (Vss. 8-9) That suddenness is due to David’s faith. David had a track record with God. He had already addressed God’s “unfailing” love. He knows God will not leave him in anguish forever.
God will not leave you either. Remember that. Don’t forget all that he has already done for you up to this point. And even if God never did one more thing for you for the rest of your life, He has done more than you deserve and more than you could ever repay Him for. But God loves you in an unfailing manner. And he will never abandon you to distress.
PRAY
Heavenly Father, thank You. Thank You for being everything to me and for me. You are faithful! You are concerned with everything that concerns me. I am grateful for Your Holy Spirit that comforts me during times of fear and doubt. Thank You for everything that You’ve done for me; seen and unseen. I will praise Your name, forever!