1 {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments, upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.} Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure.
2 Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am withered; Jehovah, heal me, for my bones tremble.
3 And my soul trembleth exceedingly: and thou, Jehovah, till how long?
4 Return, Jehovah, free my soul; save me for thy loving-kindness' sake.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall give thanks unto thee?
6 I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7 Mine eye wasteth away through grief; it hath grown old because of all mine oppressors.
8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9 Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah receiveth my prayer.
10 All mine enemies shall be ashamed and tremble exceedingly; they will turn, they will be ashamed suddenly.
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Commentary on Psalms 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 6
David was a weeping prophet as well as Jeremiah, and this psalm is one of his lamentations: either it was penned in a time, or at least calculated for a time, of great trouble, both outward and inward. Is any afflicted? Is any sick? Let him sing this psalm. The method of this psalm is very observable, and what we shall often meet with. He begins with doleful complaints, but ends with joyful praises; like Hannah, who went to prayer with a sorrowful spirit, but, when she had prayed, went her way, and her countenance was no more sad. Three things the psalmist is here complaining of:-
This psalm is like the book of Job.
To the chief musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith. A psalm of David.
Psa 6:1-7
These verses speak the language of a heart truly humbled under humbling providences, of a broken and contrite spirit under great afflictions, sent on purpose to awaken conscience and mortify corruption. Those heap up wrath who cry not when God binds them; but those are getting ready for mercy who, under God's rebukes, sow in tears, as David does here. Let us observe here,
We should sing these verses with a deep sense of the terrors of God's wrath, which we should therefore dread and deprecate above any thing; and with thankfulness if this be not our condition, and compassion to those who are thus afflicted: if we be thus troubled, let it comfort us that our case is not without precedent, nor, if we humble ourselves and pray, as David did, shall it be long without redress.
Psa 6:8-10
What a sudden change is here for the better! He that was groaning, and weeping, and giving up all for gone (v. 6, 7), here looks and speaks very pleasantly. Having made his requests known to God, and lodged his case with him, he is very confident the issue will be good and his sorrow is turned into joy.
In singing this, and praying over it, we must give glory to God, as a God ready to hear prayer, must own his goodness to us in hearing our prayers, and must encourage ourselves to wait upon him and to trust in him in the greatest straits and difficulties.