Psalm 6

0 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 6:4)

O Lord, unless you turn in my direction, I am lost. Unless You choose not to give me the justice I deserve, I am without hope. Unless You look upon me with mercy, I am doomed to receive what I deserve.

Yet You are a God of steadfast love, One whose mercy is new every morning. You have chosen to deliver me, not because I have earned it, and surely not because I deserve it, but because of who You are. Your love, Your grace, Your mercy . . . these alone lead to my salvation.

Postscript

The word translated in Psalm 6:4 as "turn" means, literally, "to return" (Hebrew, shub). It is often used in the Old Testatment prophets when the Lord calls His people to turn back to Him: "Return, O faithless children, I will heal your faithlessness" (Jeremiah 3:22). Of course God doesn't need to repent in the way of sinful humankind. But, on the basis of His steadfast love for us, He will choose to be merciful to us and to save our lives, even though we deserve judgment. In this sense God "turns" to us. And because we have confidence in His love and grace, we can even be so bold as to ask Him to turn and save us.

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

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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