When there are those times in life in which we have allowed sin, it seems like we have nowhere to turn to find rest in our souls. The only way we can deal with the sense of guilt is to go to our Lord in honest, heartfelt repentance and openly acknowledge our need for spiritual healing. That can only come from Him. That is what is the heart of David's prayer for mercy in Psalm 6. Trouble has come into his soul, and his sorrow for sin committed is deep and real. There is no pretense nor an attempt to justify himself or his actions, nor does he try to cover the sin over as if it were not serious. This is the prayer of a truly repentant sinner who feels the weight of sin, the loss of joy, and the loss of fellowship with God.
The "penitential psalms" are seven written confessions of sin and the words of a true penitent who longs for God, but has allowed sin a place in his or her life. In this psalm, there is no reference to a particular action or sin that has created the barrier between the Lord and His servant, David. But there is no question that David is expecting chastisement and rebuke from the Lord, and so mournfully plays a stringed instrument that suits his mood, and prays out loud with the grief and guilt sin caused.
Sin is a heavy burden on the soul of a child of God. Even thoughts of bitterness toward someone else, hasty words spoken without thinking, or some wrong action bring a sense of guilt, grief, and sorrow that does not go away. Unless there is open confession to God and restitution to people if it is needed, we will not find rest in our souls. The "yoke" that should be easy is heavy and hard, and it brings us down to our knees. It seems like the rains have descended, and the floods have come and beat upon our house when we know God is displeased with us.
David knew and accepted whatever God did as a result of his sin, but he did not want God to be angry with him and discipline him in anger. When God deals in justice, there is no real recovery from the consequences of sin. But when God deals in mercy, divine justice is tempered by mercy, and the severity of punishment is lessened. Sin allowed in the life of a believer affects our body, soul, and spirit. There is a consciousness in our spirit that God does not hear because "we have regarded iniquity in our heart." The emotional part of us that is a reflection of our soul brings grief and tears of repentance. There is a weakness in our body when we are focused on that which separates us from God.
Remorse and regret stop the normal course of our lives until we are conscious of being restored to the Lord. There is a longing in our souls for the assurance of forgiveness of our sins and the fellowship we have lost. We know we need the mercy we do not deserve, and we earnestly desire for the Lord to show us that mercy. We, as members of the family of God, are to "be merciful, as your Father also is merciful," when those who are against us because of our faith, or for whatever reason, sin against us. How grateful we are that we have a "merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God."
The cry of David's heart was to be delivered from that guilt before he died. He felt like he was dying. His words resonate in any believer who has allowed sin into their life and is conscious of the awful consequences of lost communion with God, joy in their own soul, and unrestricted fellowship with the Lord's people. That consciousness of sin and the guilt it brings stops us cold in our tracks. We cannot ignore what we have lost and what has caused it. It must be dealt with honestly, openly, and quickly.
David was afraid he would be wiped out and wasted away before he would be restored to the Lord. He felt he was aging before his time, his energy was gone, he was physically weak, and all he could do was cry. People around could see all this happening to him. Perhaps they knew the cause and were critically charging him with something, and making accusations. They either mocked him or added to his grief with their words and actions. Sin in the life of a believer is a focus of attention by unbelievers because they expect better of believers than they do of themselves.
What joy it is when we know God has heard us! What relief comes to us when words like, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." When we take God at His word in faith, peace comes to our souls, our spirits are lifted, and we are again on speaking terms with our Lord. Deliverance comes, and the broken heart is healed.
The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer," brought to David the relief and restoration for which he had longed. Genuine repentance for sin and forsaking of sin brings the joy of fellowship and communion with God again. When we put our trust in God after honest confession, we no longer need to feel we are victims because of the sin we have committed. The prayer of the penitent turns our attention from ourselves to our God, and then, in the presence of His holiness, repentance is real, and restoration is accomplished.
PSALM 6. A Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble. (To be played on an eight-stringed lyre.) It is not easy to be troubled with a serious illness. It was even worse when the pressure of his enemies was on him, and perhaps saying that his condition was hopeless. David apparently interpreted his sickness as a stroke from God because of sin. This is sometimes true but not in any way, always the case. Sometimes it is God’s way to display His power and glory to those who won’t listen any other way [Jn. 9:3; 11:4]. On other occasions, it is a way of producing spiritual fruit [Rom.5:3] or preventing sin [2 Cor. 12:7], a natural result of overwork [Phil. 2:30]; old age [Ecc. 12:3-6].
When sickness comes, make sure there is no unconfessed sin in our lives; ask the Lord to work out His plans in the illness and, if it pleases Him, to heal us; and then go to the doctor. Whatever means He chooses to use is His own right. He can give us grace for suffering and dying as well as healing. David asks the Lord to heal him and recognizes that his only claim for deliverance is the love of the Lord.
Even though it seems he didn’t understand the teaching of “absent from the body and present with the Lord,” he made good use of whatever light he had by putting it into his prayers. Intelligent praying is important. He was totally miserable until it seemed like he could take no more.
Then comes the assurance that the Lord has heard and answered his prayer. He is strengthened and no longer afraid of his enemies. He orders them away and is changed. “Prayer changes things.”