Confidence in God

Day three hundred fifty-one

I had a good day yesterday with my family.  This morning I thanked God for the good days, they far out weigh the bad, which I see as an amazing blessing.  It is in those good day moments that I get filled enough to deal with the bad days. Thanks goodness for the good days!

Psalm 6

This Psalm is commonly known as the first of the seven “penitential” psalms, (The other six are Ps 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143).  It is called “penitential” because it expresses sorrow, humiliation, and the hatred of sin, which are the marks of a person who is truly turning to God.    It was a custom in the early church to sing these psalms on Ash Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter. These are the psalms for the afflicted soul.

First comes the agonizing plea (vv 1-7):

We don't know what sin David is talking about in this psalm, but because of this sin David sensed he was under the rebuke of God. Whatever the sin was, it is certainly tormenting David, look at how it is affecting him:

- his bones and soul are vexed (vv 2-3)
- he is thinking about death (v 5)
- he is tired, not sleeping, he cries a lot (v 6)
- he is consumed with grief (v 7)

He is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually suffering because of his sin.  It is a little scary to think about, but maybe this is a prime example of godly sorrow. It is intense and therefore David called out to God to lighten the chastisement.

There may be times when we believe we are being chastened by God when really we suffer trouble brought upon by ourselves. Nevertheless, there are certainly times when the Lord does chasten His children.  When God corrects us it doesn't feel pleasant, but it is good, and for our good. Discipline helps us grow and it keeps us from wickedness.

Feeling the pressure from being chastised David clings to God's mercy and admits his weakness, a good thing for all of us to do.  Weakness is not necessarily a bad thing.  We look at weakness as being a weakness, but sometimes it’s the very thing that allows God to work in our lives.  We might feel like we need to quit because we are so weak.  Yet perhaps this is the place God wants us to be at, the place where He can begin to work.

Next comes the resolution (vv 8-10):

Here we start to see David acting consistently with his change of heart and telling all ungodly people to depart from him.  Repentance is practical, it separates us from sin.  David’s weeping is genuine and shows his desire to get away from sin (v 8).

“Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers, and of weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way.” ~ Spurgeon

All that seems to matter to David is that God has heard his prayer.  His situation remains the same, but God has heard (v 9).  It isn't that God is impressed by emotional displays, but a passionate heart impresses Him. David wasn't afraid to cry before the Lord, and God honored the voice of his weeping.

Note in verse 10 what David wishes on his enemies:

"Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly" 

It’s interesting that David asks that his enemies be “sore vexed”, which is just what he’s been.  David knows that when God receives his prayer, it will be trouble for his enemy. He sees that his temporary agony and trouble gives way to a permanent agony and trouble for his enemies.

David ends the Psalm on a note of confidence. He made his agonized cry to God, and God heard him. What difference would it make in our lives if we would plead with God in sorrow for our sins and then knew wih confidence that He hears us and will honor our pleas? 

I personally need to work on the confidence part, I tend to not let go and let the Lord do His part. How much undo agony am I causing myself because of that?  It seems hypocritical that I believe I should go to Him in prayer and He will hear me, but I don't truly let go and let Him heal the situation. David's Psalm reminded me that I need to have more confidence in God when it comes to seeking God's mercy in my life.  With increased confidence will come increased blessings of forgiveness, comfort and peace.  All blessings God has promised to give us if we will just ask and believe.