In Your Trouble Pray
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Introduction
Introduction
In life we face trouble sometimes and eventually we will face troublesome times. As we continue in our journey through the book of Psalms we arrive at Psalm 6 and 7. Both of these Psalms are prayers and I lumped them together because they are both prayers of David in troublesome times. What caught my attention and stirred my heart is the fact that both Psalms are prayers during trouble in David’s life. One Psalm is a prayer for trouble David brought into his life and the other a prayer for trouble that was brought to David. Why did this stir my heart? Despite the different sources of the trouble the solution is the same - pray to God who hears!
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking; 3 my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, Lord—how long?
4 Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love. 5 For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol? 6 I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.
7 My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies. 8 Depart from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
1 Lord my God, I seek refuge in you; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, 2 or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue me. 3 Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands,
4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause, 5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah 6 Rise up, Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; awake for me; you have ordained a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around you; take your seat on high over it. 8 The Lord judges the peoples; vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity. 9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God.
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge and a God who shows his wrath every day. 12 If anyone does not repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has strung his bow and made it ready. 13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he tips his arrows with fire.
14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit. 15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made. 16 His trouble comes back on his own head; his own violence comes down on top of his head. 17 I will thank the Lord for his righteousness; I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalm 6 - Pray For Mercy
Psalm 6 - Pray For Mercy
Mercy is defined as not getting what you deserve.
Call out for mercy
Call out for mercy
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking; 3 my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, Lord—how long?
Psalm 6 is known as the first of seven penitential psalms - songs of confession and humility. The others are Psalm 6, Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, Psalm 102, Psalm 130 and Psalm 143. Psalm 6 as mentioned before is a Psalm of David. Now we do not know what the occasion of sin was, but because of this sin David sensed he was under the rebuke of the Lord.
This Psalm is his call to God to lighten the chastising and to show him mercy. Do not rebuke me in your anger and do not discipline me in your wrath.
Now to be honest there are times where we feel under the chastisement of God but really our suffering is of our own making. There is without a doubt though times where the Lord does chasten us as His children.
7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
The chastening we feel is evidence of our adoption. When God is rebuking and correcting it doesnt feel good, but it is good and it is for our good.
David lived before the finished work of Jesus and so David had less certainty of his position with God. We have a new hope on this side of the cross that all the anger from God towards us as sinners was poured out on Jesus at the cross. God is rebuking out of corrective love and not out of anger.
David though sensing he was under the rebuke of God still pleaded for mercy. Be gracious to me Lord. While in rebuke we must come to the place of correction and humble submission to the rebuke, God doesn’t intend for us to stay there. God desires that we would seek Him and call out to Him to get things right with the Lord.
I am weak heal me, my bones are shaking and my whole being is shaken with terror. David knew both the physical weakness and spiritual weakness. Our lack of confidence in God’s love and desire to help makes any trial become unbearable.
How long Lord until you heal and relent?
Plea for Rescue
Plea for Rescue
4 Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love. 5 For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol?
David pleaded for deliverance and rescue from the Lord. Notice that David’s plea though is on the grounds of God’s faithful love - not based on his own deserving acts, deeds or character, but based on God’s character. Though the rebuke of God is righteous, He is also rich in loving mercy. David says turn Lord - the word can be turn back or return. This indicates David felt distance between himself and the Lord. This distance is what makes any trial even more agonizing. The closer God is the more we are able to face anything but the further from God the more we are frail against even the smallest obstacle and trial.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
David then says there is no remembrance of you in death, who can thank you in Sheol - David is saying if I die then I cannot praise you for delivering me. David appeals for healing not only because of God’s mercy and his need, but because of the finality of death. He is in agony, fearing for his life, and he knows he can remember God and give Him thanks now. He doesn’t have the same certainty about the world beyond, so he asks God to act according to his certainty.
In death healing of the soul is no longer possible - only the living penitent can experience the gracious healing of their soul.
Cry in Humble Brokenness
Cry in Humble Brokenness
6 I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night. 7 My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies.
David was distraught before the Lord. Groaning with such intensity that it has made him weary. Using hyperbolic expression David describes the sorrow and grief he experiences. The grief of knowing he is under rebuke of God and the tears he cries because of it. He has cried so often and so long his eyes are swollen from the grief - truly broken already over his sin.
The scene is the grief sorrow and agony David has experienced over his guilt and his sin.
Tears are liquid prayers that need no interpretation. Spurgeon
Confident in the Lord
Confident in the Lord
8 Depart from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
David finishes this prayer for mercy with a confidence that is necessary. All who come to the throne room of mercy must be confident that God hears and delivers.
Psalm 7 - Pray for Justice
Psalm 7 - Pray for Justice
Justice is defined as getting just what you deserve
Another Psalm by David. This prayer is titled as a Shiggaion - not a familiar word is it. A shiggaion implies a wandering ode, or a loud enthusiastic hymn in which the writer is carried away with his enthusiasm. Cush is the subject of this ode and Cush as a Benjamite is from the same tribe as King Saul - perhaps one of his trusted men? A malicious foe of David nonetheless. This Psalm comes from a time where David was hunted by Saul’s men.
Appeal to the Lord for Refuge
Appeal to the Lord for Refuge
1 Lord my God, I seek refuge in you; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, 2 or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.
David says Lord my God I seek refuge in you save me or I am done for, for there is no other rescuer. If God did not rescue him no one could. David is under attack from Saul and his men especially Cush the Benjamite and all David could do was call on and trust God.
No other help to be found for him but no other support is needed either. God not a last resort He is our only resort.
When enemies pursue and life is on the line God is the only lifeline necessary. If God doesnt save then no one can save.
Submit to the Judgment of the Lord
Submit to the Judgment of the Lord
3 Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands, 4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause, 5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
David comes to the Lord and submits to His judgment. If there is injustice on my hands, if I have done harm or plundered may an enemy pursue and overtake me. If I am guilty of this then I deserve this that is coming. David spent no time defending himself before God - God knows whether one is guilty or not. David comes simply to God and says You be the judge.
In our time of trial we must be able to come before God and say You be the judge - is this deserving or not? If we are deserving then we pray in humility for mercy and deliverance as the Psalm before. If it is unjust then we come in humilty and we pray for the Lord to decide and we pray for justice.
Selah — meditate and consider - think on that and allow God to speak to us
Plea for the Lord to Act Accordingly
Plea for the Lord to Act Accordingly
6 Rise up, Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; awake for me; you have ordained a judgment. 7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around you; take your seat on high over it.
8 The Lord judges the peoples; vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity. 9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God.
After pausing and determining the Lord was not chastising him David then proceeds to plea for the Lord to act accordingly. Not according to his own innocence but according to God’s own character, decrees and judgments.
Rise up in your anger - your righteous anger that burns against the wicked and the oppressor. Lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries. Awake - not saying wake up as if God is sleeping but to prompt God to act for He has ordained a judgment. Call upon God and trust in Him for rescue because He has ordained a judgment. That judgment is against the wicked and evil because He is a righteous God God examines thoughts and minds - the hidden part He judges
David calls on God to vindicate him based on his righteousness and integrity - not wholly - but this is in reference to this one occurence - this matter now.
Judge and let the evil of the wicked come to an end while establishing righteousness. Understandably the prayer of the righteous often calls on God to set things right on earth. The righteous cannot endure unrighteousness and long for judgment and justice.
Let the assembly gather round you take your seat on high over it - this speaks to God’s exalted position His complete sovereignty in all things including justice and judgment.
Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge and a God who shows his wrath every day. 12 If anyone does not repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has strung his bow and made it ready. 13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he tips his arrows with fire.
14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit. 15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made. 16 His trouble comes back on his own head; his own violence comes down on top of his head.
17 I will thank the Lord for his righteousness; I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.
David plead his case before God, asked for Him to examine him and judge whether he was right or not and then asked for God to act accordingly. After these things you know what David then did? He trusted in the Lord. He says my shield is with God - my protection is with God. The same God who saves the upright in heart!
3 my God, my rock where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, you save me from violence.
David knows that God is a righteous judge - so he can trust in Him. Take comfort in the fact people’s wickedness does not go unnoticed. Trust in the Lord to exact vengeance though!
35 Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay. In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.
God is against the one who does not repent. His weapons are ready and they are deadly and precise. God is pictured as ready to judge the sinner. The sword is sharpened and the bow is strung and pulled back. God is pictured as ready to judge so that the sinner may not presume that God will delay judgment yet God has delayed judgement so the sinner can seek mercy!
Many make the fatal eternal error that God delaying judgment for sinners to find mercy is proof that God is not concerned with justice. Why does God hold back immediate justice?
because the sinner is not guilty?
The Law is not clear?
Mankind deserves mercy?
God is not powerful enough to bring justice?
God is not just?
None of these are true. Instead, the sword is sharpened and the bow is bent. The only thing that holds back the immediate judgment of God against the sinner is the undeserved mercy of God, giving the sinner an unknown period of time to repent. Such mercy should never be presumed upon.
The wrath of God may be slow, but it is always sure
The wicked one is pregnant with evil conceives evil and gives birth to deceit. Ones wickedness shows up in their wicked deeds.
God traps the wicked with their own plans. If someone conceives trouble, it will not produce its intended results. Rather the evil scheme will be turned back on the plotter. This is retribution from God, for the punishment fits the crime
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.
52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
Two examples Haman and his gallows and the enemies of Daniel in the lion’s den
David finishes with praise for God and His righteousness not his own. Only the righteousness of God is praiseworthy and perfect.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Whether your trouble comes from being under rebuke from the Lord or from unjust actions from adversaries the solution is the same. Humble yourself and call upon the name of the Lord whether for mercy or for justice. Never pray give me what I deserve - but ask for that which you dont deserve but that God offers anyways.
In his trials David was physically and spiritually afflicted. Longing to again feel the presence of the Lord. The Lord was waiting for David to seek Him again. The Lord is always waiting for us to seek Him again.
13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.
17 I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.
Even though we may be bone-weary like David aware of our shortcomings, compromises, sins, weaknesses and failures. Dont stop and stay there - like David we must pray with perseverance until we feel the Lord’s presence again.
Elijah on Mount Carmel in a simple prayer called down fire from heaven. Following this he prayed not for fire but rain. This time in praying Elijah put his head between his knees and prayed why? This resembles the position of birthing and birthing requires labor and pain. So too we must remember our prayers may sometimes be quick and simple and other times we must persevere and labor in prayer.
The slander of enemies is likened to the attack of a lion. Peter says that our adversary goes about roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour. How does Satan devour? Accusing us in slander - reminding us of our failures and our shortcomings convincing us that God has given up on us and left us. Dont believe it - God shows mercy and is our shield because not of us but His faithful love.
Running for his life, David took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When Saul unknowingly took a nap in the same cave, David’s men told him it was his opportunity to lop off Saul’s head. David didn’t follow their advice. Instead, he cut off a piece of Saul’s garment simply to prove that he could have indeed taken Saul’s life. As he did this, however, Scripture records that his heart smote him. “I shouldn’t have touched the Lord’s anointed,” he said (1 Samuel 24:5, 6).
In this, we see that, even though he had been anointed by Samuel to be king, David recognized Saul as God’s anointed instrument to make him a godly man. In due season, God would deal with Saul. In due season, David would ascend to the throne. But at this point, Saul had a role to play in David’s development.
I suggest the same is true of the boss, the parent, or the teacher you’re tempted to slander. Wise is the man who realizes that in God’s economy, everyone around him has a role to play—making him a different person than he would otherwise be. On three occasions, Saul threw spears at David. But David didn’t fire back.
In the face of accusation, condemnation, and slander, David says, “My defense is God. He is the only One who judges righteously.” David experienced seasons of sin, many points of weakness, numerable failures, yet he had something I desire very much in my life. He had a heart that loved God deeply, fervently, and constantly. Thus, he knew God was able to sort things out and make every situation right.
What is our defense to be when Satan slanders us either internally or through the mouths of others? If you seek to defend yourself, you’re a fool because once you start defending yourself, you’ll never stop. It will become your full-time occupation and will keep you from ever doing anything significant for God. When Satan accuses and condemns us, Jesus is our defense Lawyer who says, “The penalty has been paid. The blood has been shed.”