If David’s deep woes enabled him to share in all Israel’s pangs, how much better equipped is Jesus as your sympathetic High Priest: Jesse’s Son’s sorrows are but a drop in the ocean of Christ’s ‘Marianas Trench’ of tears – His life-long tunnel turned ink-black at the Cross. He has tailor-made grace to fit and overpower your grief.

In this first ‘Penitential’ psalm, through David’s cry, we hear Christ’s Spirit sigh. We could aptly name his lament: ‘The Long Night of Sorrow’. Is God’s face eclipsed? Are you passing through a trial? Is life a tearful vale? Are you mistreated, marginalized or mocked? Do you weep for Jesus’ sake? Find refuge, comfort and help in Psalm 6!

Appeal – Verse 1

David, for whatever reason, senses divine disciplinary displeasure: he knows, having erred, he is being chastened and corrected by the LORD. He asks that God might, in mercy, mitigate royal deserts and spare him many stripes. ‘Give me sore displeasure but spare me burning anger!’

David has no gripe: he knows God is just. David sees some purpose: he believes training has purpose – sin to mortify, sanctity to be grown, strength to be obtained, suffering to be endured and supplications to pour forth, that the King might gain relief. Only as spotless, loving, mediator, does imputed guilt set this on Jesus’ lips.

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