Sermon Tone Analysis
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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!
Psalm 6 - Pray For Mercy
Mercy is defined as not getting what you deserve.
Call out for mercy
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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