Psalm 6 - Crying Out to God

"Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love."

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.

5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
Who praises you from the grave [b] ?

6 I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Grace without remembering its cost can lead to a casual view toward sin.
The grace revolution has brought health to the body of Christ, but has the pendulum swung too far? Could we be forgetting another side of God? Whereas Grace relieves the sting of shame, God’s anger toward that sin should not be underestimated. David knew how God felt about sin. He begins this psalm by pleading to Him for patience regarding the condition he finds himself in. He asks that God not punish him in the heat of his anger. God hates sin, and because of this grace does not pardon without payment. Grace liberates because a just and full payment was made through Jesus Christ. We deserve death. Let’s not forget this in the face of our sin. As we plea for grace to flow, it flows freely as blood from His riven side.
David sees himself weak, sick, disturbed and gloomy. Not the picture we often associate with the King of Israel, the champion of wars, and the brilliant softhearted writer of the psalms. Yet, he had this moment where all he could do is cry out to God. How often do we petition God with such accurate assessment of our own lives? It’s all right to be honest with God about our condition. He often hears the cry of the destitute and afflicted before the proud and satisfied.
David, sensing God far away, now he cries for Him to return and deliver him. Perhaps he had tried everything else, or maybe he had learned that those avenues only postpone the grace of God. David has spent hours upon his bed, wetting his pillow with tears. Has God forgotten him? Will he rescue his chosen servant? Yes, he is comforted with the fact that, “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. Does God accept some prayers and not others? He hears all, however some he will see the condition of the heart, weigh the motives and place the answer on hold until character compliments request. He will not give us anything that we are not ready to accept in humility.
Notice that those who do evil have accosted David. Perhaps some have counseled to reject this God who doesn’t act for His people. But David knows God will come. This faith on David’s part sounds like presumption, but it’s deeper than that! If we hadn’t seen him swimming in tears, we might be tempted to assume David far too sure of himself. But experience has shown me that confidence in prayer, and faith in the middle of hostility is only gained through wrestling God alone in prayer. Jacob had to wrestle God alone on that starless night. We too must defeat tendencies for doubt, pride and hostility. We do so alone in our closets. God will give grace to the humble, but will stand against the proud to cause their ruin.

Anyone not affected by the cost of the cross will need training before grace can be received in full. What is my view of grace in light of the cross? Do I weaken its power by cheapening its gift?

Psalm 5-Prayer Kindling...Our Hope in Battle!

"But I, by your great mercy will come into your house." v. 7

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
with you the wicked cannot dwell.

5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong.

6 You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
the LORD abhors.

7 But I, by your great mercy,
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make straight your way before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Commentary:
This psalm has been used for centuries as kindling for hearts weary in the battle. For many in the thick of temptation, or running ashamed, these words breathe hope and expectancy for God to come to their aid. The secret is in the asking, but more importantly, in asking with a tender and desperate heart. The normal experience of mankind is to cry, deeply sigh under burdens and to lose hope. While Christians are never sheltered from the principles that govern the world, a greater overarching principle comes into play. God breathes perspective into the wilds. He grants his children to understand enough to keep hopeful. For that, I personally am grateful. The psalmist has made it his practice to seek God at first light. We need direction for the day, and encouragement to stay at our post. By any standard, a good model to follow.
The best defense against spiritual discouragement is to be reminded that God hates sin, and will be its judge. It’s not easy to watch the wicked thrive while we struggle. Yet, Scriptures tells us that they have had their reward in full. No one will stand in judgment who has not bowed the knee to our Sovereign Lord.
The arrogant, repugnant in God’s eyes, must leave his presence. This sinister wellspring of sin was the cataract of Satan’s anarchy. God does not tolerate it. If the pride is too strong, or we are too weak to change, he will lead us to the fire where that dross will be consumed. In addition, it says God will destroy liars. Do you take seriously God’s standard for holiness? Remember, a half-truth is a whole lie.
How easily we become distracted in trusting others more than God. But who can be fully trusted? That kind of knowledge is essential in the heat of battle. As God leads us in His righteousness, he will make a broad path for our feet before His enemies. The psalmist asks God to punish the wicked because they have rebelled against Him. Yet, often I am aware of my own heart’s rebellion, and I need first to get right with God, and then call others to a standard. Lord, don’t let syncretism embroil me lies and deceit. There’s nothing more punishing to my spirit than duplicity.
What does it mean, practically, to take refuge in God? I see that doing so makes one glad, actually singing for joy. The pressures of life counteract the deep assurance joy wants to bring. Yet, can this otherworldly canopy of God’s grace become such a protective element in my life, that under it, I stay unmolested? The nature of a real Christian is that from him shall flow rivers of living water. When the battle, pressures and defeats take their toll on us, there’s nothing to flow. Yet, as we trust God under his shade, he will preserve us, bless us, and surround us as with a shield. Behind Him we can peek out at our enemies with confidence. “My daddy’s bigger than yours! My daddy catches bigger fish.”
We die daily. This Psalm walks us into the battle and shows us that we can sing aloud, for the Father’s good hand at Calvary has made it so.
The kindling of this psalm is the voice of Jesus beckoning me into holy fellowship.