Psalm 6
1O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,
or discipline me in your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O Lord—how long?
4Turn, O Lord, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise?
6I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.
8Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9The Lord has heard my supplication;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.
There's something to be said about knowing one's place. It helps the natural order progress. Yet, there are times when that order needs amending. There are times when we find ourselves at a distance from where we would like to be.
The psalm this morning reminds us that there are those times when the order which normally surrounds our life is in chaos. We mourn. We weep. We yearn for some sense of peace. We even flood our bed with our own tears. Grief, sorrow, and loss are a part of this life.
So what is our response when things get out of order? Do we merely mourn the loss? Yes. We mourn. We weep. It is not always how we want to live life, but it is a part of being human. The proper question is not "Do we weep?" The right question to ask is "How do we weep?" Our hope, as found in this psalm, is knowing that in all things, even our saddest times, we can turn to God with our supplication and lament. For it is not our own works that make us better, but God's blessed assurance with us. As you pray this Psalm, you may not be one in sadness. Think of those who may be and offer this prayer on their behalf.
Pray Psalm 6.
