Psalm 6

To the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
1   O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,
    or discipline me in your wrath.
2   Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am         languishing;
    O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking         with terror.
3   My soul also is struck with terror,
    while you, O LORD—how long?
4   Turn, O LORD, save my life;
    deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5   For in death there is no remembrance of         you;
    in Sheol who can give you praise?
6   I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
7   My eyes waste away because of grief;
    they grow weak because of all my foes.
8   Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the LORD has heard the sound of my         weeping.
9   The LORD has heard my supplication;
    the LORD accepts my prayer.
10   All my enemies shall be ashamed and         struck with terror;
    they shall turn back, and in a moment be put         to shame.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 6:6)

Dear Father, there have been times when I could pray this verse as if it were from my own heart, times of agony, fear, and grief. Today, by Your grace, is not such a time for me. But I think of others for whom this verse is terribly apt, and so I pray for them: for a family in my church as they face the imminent death of a beloved mother and grandmother; for those throughout the world who have lost loved ones in acts of violence or in natural disasters; for children in Africa who have no parents because of the ravages of AIDS; and for people throughout the world who are hungry with no hope of food today. Gracious God, comfort those who weep. Draw near to the lonely. Grant your peace to those who hearts are distressed. Thank you, dear Lord, for caring when we hurt. Amen.

Postscript

Psalm 6:6 exemplifies the literary device of hyperbole (exaggeration). Though the first line could be literally true, the second and third lines are hyperbolic. They exaggerate the truth to make a vivid point and increase the poetic appeal. If, instead of "Every night I flood my bed with tears" David had written, "Every night I cry a lot," we'd get the idea, but it wouldn't penetrate our hearts or remain in our minds. As we interpret the Psalms, we should watch for hyperbole, so that it might have its intended effect, and so that we don't interpret literally that which was meant to be hyperbolic.

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

Note: You may download the contents of The Daily Psalm at no cost, for personal use or for use in a Christian ministry, as long as you are not publishing them for sale. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due. For all other uses, please contact me at mark@markdroberts.com. Thank you.

The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved