Hope for Languishing Souls
As early at the 5th century St. Augustine of Hippo knew four psalms as 'penitential psalms.' By the 6th century Cassiodorus (AD 490 - c. 585) described seven penitential psalms in his commentary: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. For centuries Christians have prayed these psalms during the season of Lent to express sorrow for sin and cultivate a contrite heart. This is the first in series of Lent meditations on the Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).
Psalm 6
Few prayers in Scripture match the anguish and despair found in Psalm 6.
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long? 6:1-3 NIV
What painful circumstances gave rise to this desperate cry? The superscription attributes this prayer to King David but gives no historical point of reference. However, the canonical literary setting of Psalm 6 provides insight into the circumstances that prompted David’s deep anguish.
The first psalm with a superscription historical reference appears just a few prayers prior to Psalm 6. The superscription of Psalm 3 reads – “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” I believe it likely this historical reference describes not only the setting for Psalm 3, but also the lament psalms that immediately follow (none of which have a historical reference). This helps us make much sense of Psalm 6.
Absalom’s rebellion against his father led to the darkest days of David’s life and reign as king. Only a few years prior to the revolt Absalom had murdered his half-brother Amnon as retribution for his violation of their sister Tamar. Then Absalom conspired to take the throne from his father David. The situation was so dire that David fled his capital of Jerusalem. Forced to leave the tabernacle and the presence of God, David departed the land typically viewed as the “Promised Land” and headed east across the Jordan River. His concubines were left behind and Absalom sexually abused them all in broad daylight for everyone in Israel to see. The horror of it all was compounded by the fact that it was David’s own son who committed these acts against his father.
The book of Proverbs often utters a general plea that God would not discipline or correct. But this isn’t such a plea. David’s prayer is urgent, and he uses the strongest language to express the depths of his anguish.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish. 6:2-3a
Most English translations obscure the repetition of the Hebrew word בָּהל bahal which is translated as “agony” in vs. 2 and “anguish” in vs. 3. It is the same word used to describe Joseph’s brothers when they learned that he was alive and had the power to kill them (Gen. 45:3). It could rightly be translated “my bones are terrified… My soul is in terror”[1]
David is keenly aware of his own transgressions and failures. His sin against Bathsheba and Uriah gave birth to the series of tragedies described above. David is abundantly aware of his own guilt, but he can take no more. So, he cries out to God trusting that He will be gracious where no mercy is warranted.
Yet even in his great distress, David ends this prayer where most laments end – with a statement of trust.
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. 6:8-10
Convinced of God’s faithfulness David declares that his enemies will be overwhelmed with the same “terror” (בָּהל bahal, translated “anguish” again in vs. 10) he has known.
Behind the story of David’s personal failures and pain and the story of Absalom’s desire for revenge, stands the greater story. It is the story of God’s redemptive work through the line of David. God responds to David’s cry not only because David is a man after God’s own heart, but also because Our Father will not abandon his plan to redeem all things through David’s descendent – the Anointed One, Jesus the Christ. No human failures will thwart God’s redemptive intent, and that is a comforting thought for languishing souls.
[1] James Hamilton, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, pg. 130.