Prayers God Answers

Text:   Psalm 6

What is the occasion of this Psalm?

This is an occasion of physical illness. See verse 2, “I am weak…heal me; for my bones are vexed.”

But I want you to see that often physical illness can weigh heavily upon the spirit. Verse 3 begins, “My soul is also sore vexed…”

What is the intensity of the situation? What words are used to show severe things are?

We have already seen that he has been using this word vexed. His bones are vexed and his soul is vexed. This may be better interpreted “my bones shake!” This is so great on me that my soul is “sore vexed” or my soul is “greatly disturbed or troubled.”

What else gives us clear understanding of what is going on here?

He declares in verse 2 that he is weak, but as we move through verse 2-3 and get to verse 5, it appears he believed himself to be near death. He seems to be pretty bad off, nearly without hope of recovery. He is even weary of groaning. When he goes to bed his crying is so severe that his bed is full of water, enough to swim. His eyes are consumed with nothing but this terrible occasion. He mentions enemies as if to add one last factor to this torture.

What is his response to this severe problem?

He goes to the Lord. “O Lord.” Isn’t that beautiful?  Five times in the first four verses he cries out, “O Lord!” A cry to the Lord is a cry on Eternity, Infinity, Immutability, on Self-existence, on Mercy and Love.

What does he pray for?

What does he ask for first? Do not rebuke or chasten me in anger, as if there may be some sin committed. But look closely, is there a confession of sin? Psalm 38 begins nearly the same way, “O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” But in verse 4 of that Psalm he confesses, “For mine iniquities are gone over my head.” He makes a confession in Psalm 38, but no confession is in this Psalm. What does he begin this way then? He knows that this thing was either sent by God or permitted by God. He doesn’t want to be presumptuous as a mere human on the wisdom of God.

Then he asks him to have mercy. It is great suffering. It has affected my body and soul.

He asks for this to be over. We have talked about the intensity, but there is the issue of the length. Verse 3 “How long?”

He asks the Lord to return, because apparently he has assumed from all the elements of this ordeal that God had deserted him. He asks God to return.

He asks to be delivered, Healed. He is not asking to simply be given the strength to endure, but deliverance.

On what basis does he make this request?

This is the most striking thing to me: “For Thy mercies’ sake.” Our only cry can be for mercy. He doesn’t cry for justice. There is none righteous, no, not one. What plea can we make for justice? But Mercy! O Mercy gains us a hearing.

Did you notice Verse 8 & 9?

“The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.” What is the language of crying? Does crying have a voice? Is it not sweet comfort to know that even though we don’t have word or argument, that our crying can plead heavily and even when words fail us, tears win the day?

Look at verse 9. Who told him his prayer was answered? How does he know? Where did he gain such strong confidence? The Holy Spirit gives God’s children the calm relief that God has answered their prayer. What good would a vain dream of help do in the presence of his enemies or with this illness? He has really heard from God.