Praying Psalm 6

"Weak Women"

What is the title of Psalm 6?

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.  A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 6:1-3

¹YHWH, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline/chasten/correct me in your wrath/rage.
²Be gracious to me,YHWH, for I am languishing/ frail/feeble; heal me, YHWH, for my bones/substance/self are disturbed.
³My soul/nephesh is greatly disturbed. But you, YHWH— how long?

What is the problem?

YHWH may be angry. It has a real effect on David. This correction/discipline comes FROM GOD! We do not often like to look at God's anger - it's for those other people, right? (Think law vs. gospel...)
The reality is David is frail – his bones (v.2) & soul (v.3) are disturbed. His whole being is affected. The only hope is God's favor/ grace.

Read Psalm 6:4-5

⁴Turn, YHWH, deliver my soul/nephesh; save me for the sake of your mercy/chesed.
⁵For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

What does David cry to God?

TURN – do something different
SAVE – body and soul – The only hope is your chesed. **We LOVE this Hebrew word!! It is that over-abounding mercy and steadfast love that God continually gives to his people.
David reasons that his death would not bring praise to God.

Read 6:6-7

⁶I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood/cause to swim my bed; with my tears I melt/dissolve/flood my couch.
⁷My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak/old because of all my foes.

What is happening in the psalmist’s life?

Pain, suffering, sorrow, oppression, weariness, growing old? If we are honest, this is our life (maybe not always to the degree that David is suffering). Point being, we can identify with the real, heart-wrenching pain of a sinful world.

Read Psalm 6:9-10

⁸ Turn from me, all you workers of evil/sin, for the YHWH has heard the sound of my weeping.
⁹The YHWH has heard my plea; my prayer he takes.
¹⁰ Let them be ashamed and let them be greatly disturbed (v.3&4) all my enemies; Let them turn back and let them be put to shame in a moment/suddenly.

What is the answer to David’s prayer?

God heard, God acts. Evil is judged.
What is judgment? Let what THEY did, happen to them. Shame and distress. SUDDENLY.

*READ Bonheoffer, Psalms The Prayer Book of the Bible, “Guilt”. If we are to pray for God's judgment on evil enemies, we also assume blamelessness before God. Arrogant, you say? Rather, dependence only on Christ's righteousness (God's great chesed) makes us pray confidently.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Lament. Identify with David's suffering, feel it.
We hope for justice! Expecting YHWH’s favorable answer/action.

How did Christ fulfill this psalm?

He cried, hurt, and felt God's anger. (Stricken, smitten, and afflicted)
He really had no personal reason to endure any of it - his will was God's will, there was no wrath for Christ's deeds.
We saw glimpses of God's answer when Christ raised from the dead. We still hope for the day when we fully see YHWH's judgment (Christ's return). The enemies will be shamed suddenly.

How can we pray this?

Lament with Christ – rejoice in his suffering, HOPE for YHWH's answer - sin will be shamed.

WE PRAY:
But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

Praying Psalm 5

“Come, Lord Jesus!”            

What is the title of this Psalm 5? 

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

READ Bonhoeffer, Psalms; the Prayer Book of the Bible, “Congregational Worship and the Psalms”

Read Psalm 5:1-3

¹Give ear/listen! to my words, O YHWH; consider/ understand! my groaning.
²Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
³O YHWH, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare/set in order (a sacrifice) for you and watch (closely & expectantly).

How does David begin to pray?

With confidence – Answer me! Hear me! These are imperatives. He knows God will do these things.

I cry & sacrifice - and I expect you to show up!

Read Psalm 5:4-6

⁴For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
⁵The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
⁶You destroy those who speak lies; YHWH abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

How does God respond to evil?

He hates it. Evil can’t be with God – he is truth and cannot tolerate lies/wickedness.

The Boastful (in themselves) won't stand before God. You can only boast in God...

DESTRUCTION for evil ones. (Hate the sin not the sinner? NOT HERE. Sin is not separate from the person doing it. This is God's justice - it will happen to people.)

**This is a harsh picture of God that we may not be used to talking about. It is very important NOT to make excuses for God's judgement on sin (and SINNERS). This is part of our God! Go with it, there is still good news to come!

Read 5:7-8

⁷But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love (GREAT "CHESED"), I will enter your house. I will bow down/prostrate toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
⁸ Lead me, YHWH, in your righteousness because of my enemies/ evil watchers; make your way straight before me.

How does David approach God?

(1) Focused on YHWH’s Great "CHESED", the Hebrew word for = overflowing mercy/ abounding grace... This is why David can enter God’s house and presence.

(2) David is bowed down, in FEAR. David is sinful, he deserves destruction because of his sin! But David enters God’s house NOT on account of his own action. Fear is a good and proper way to come before God.

(3) "Lead me" - David is before God with great humility. Making "ways straight" reminds us of calls to Repentance (John the Baptist).

Read Psalm 5:9-10

⁹For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ Make them bear their guilt/declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

Who are the wicked? What does David pray for them?

They have Wicked WORDS – this is how we know who the evil are. We are not talking mean words, rather Words that speak against God and HIS works.

David prays, "Let them fall!" This is praying for God’s good/righteous/promised judgement.

**READ Bonhoeffer, The Prayer Book of the Psalms, “The Enemies”

This is another realm we don't often hear about in prayer - praying for God's judgement on the evil (it's not pretty)! We are actually praying for God's promise to be fulfilled -  judging evil and vindicating the righteous.

Read Psalm 5:11-12

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
¹²For you bless the righteous, YHWH; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Who are the righteous? What does David pray for them?

Righteous = ones who take refuge, ones who love your name = They will sing!, shout! exult!, they are protected.

**LOVE YOUR NAME - Remember the name of God, YHWH, is a verb meaning "I am". He attaches His name to action - "I DID this for you... God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, known by the things I DID for them". Today we also call him by this name of action - Father (I Created) Son (I Redeemed) Holy Spirit (I Preserve). Same God - more of the same old story! Those who love his name trust in the God of history and action.

David's prayer is that they KNOW it  - where their protection comes from.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describes wicked/evil - God cannot stand it.

Describes David/righteous - Only there because of God's mercy.

Plea for judgment on wicked – Implore God to act.

How did Christ pray this psalm?

Often Christ had harsh words of coming judgement for teachers (those who SPOKE WORDS) against God. Evil has always been repulsive to God - but continues to exist until the final judgment.
Christ front-loaded mercy (payment for evil) but the righteous judgment of God is still to come.
Repentant sinners (followers of Christ) are able to stand in "God's house" because of the atonement made by Jesus.

Mark 12:38-40 (scribes)

Luke 19:41-44 (Jesus weeps over Jerusalem)

John the Baptist… Mathew 23:26-28 (whitewashed tomb)

How can we pray this?

Love God's name (i.e. His promise) We want God’s justice and we rejoice for our inclusion in "chesed" (great mercy)!

AND pray "Come Lord Jesus!" God will avenge the blood of the Saints who cry," How Long?"  The terrible Day of the Lord is coming and it is a good thing.

WE PRAY:

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

A View From the Cry Room: Sinners!

They are sinners! I’m speaking of those cute little children – even those who behave in church and utter sweet truthful words. In reality, they often offend the well-mannered and they are politely excused from most civil situations. Selfish motives guide their actions, self-control is an art to be acquired, emotions override all reason. Any parent can recall many a moment of frustration with these wicked humans.

“But they are only children! They have so much to learn, a lifetime, in fact!”

And you are right! You are compassionate toward these little ones of faith. Even though they sin against our God unknowingly, YOU know there is growth and development to come. Even though they take His great gifts for granted, YOU know a deep appreciation will develop. Even though they act spitefully toward the body of Christ, YOU know of the great mercy Jesus has won for them.

The apostle Paul, in Romans 3, reminds us that there is NO ONE righteous before God. We are all terrible sinners, children and adults alike. We both share in the distracted, evil deeds of sin. We cannot do the right thing, even when we know what it is!

God makes us sinners by His Word so that HE can have mercy on us all. (Romans 11) We must encourage both young and old to trust in Christ, and not in his own evil heart. Continue in your great patience in order to display the over-abounding grace God shows to all sinners!