Psalm 6
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
I am faint. My bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?
For I have sinned and incurred your anger. I have transgressed against you and found your wrath.
In my sin, I still need you. I still need the love that knows no limits. Even in my brokenness, I have breath left to speak to you, to say your name, to praise you. Give me another breath, O God.
I am worn out from my groaning. I weep all night, every night. I’m overwhelmed with sorrow. I’m surrounded by enemies, mistakes, failures. How long, Lord, how long??
Reflect:
On the words or phrases above to which you most relate. Which ones speak to you? Say them to yourself. Hold them in your heart and mind. Be authentic before the Lord.
Journal:
On the how God met you in the midst of that, or those, circumstances. Stay with the adjectives and feelings. This is a very visceral Psalm and it’s full of struggle and honesty.
Pray:
The final stanza of the Psalm. Then sit in with God, who hears and accepts your prayer.
Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.