I love to read the Psalms and then paraphrase them in my own words. This helps me understand a little better what the Psalmist may have been experiencing and it helps me to see how he related to God. Today I read Psalm 6. Here's my paraphrase.
Psalm 6
O Lord, let Your anger cool down before dealing with me.
I've already brought physical agony upon myself.
Show me Your mercy and healing instead of Your wrath.
Even my soul cries out to you,
"Hurry God! Hurry! Save me!"
If for no other reason than this -
Because Your love for me is unfailing!
If I die, there will be one less set of lips to give you praise.
I am physically worn out from crying -
All night and all day I wrestle with these agonizing thoughts.
I can't see beyond my own pain and sorrow
Because my enemies and their acusations are in my face.
I will say to them, "Get away from me, you who do not fear God -
For the Lord hears the weeping of my repentant heart,
He hears my cry for mercy, and He accepts my request."
And all my enemies and accusers will be put to shame -
Running away with their tails between their legs -
To see such great love of God Himself for me.
Paraphrased by Dave Hill
David was experiencing something in his life that made him petition God to correct him with mercy and healing rather than in anger and wrath. It appears that David felt God's judgment on him was just and imminent and he is in agony over it both physically and emotionally. David's weeping and crying in sorrow most likely displays a heart of repentance in this Psalm and not just regret for being "caught" or found out. His remorse is evident.
David's enemies are of interest to me in this Psalm. Are these "foes" simply enemies of David that are by-standers observing how God corrects His children or are they perhaps what David is referring to as God's discipline on him with wrath? Perhaps it's not either/or but both/and. In either case, David's appeal to God's unfailing love is successful and God hears and responds to David's request to show mercy on him. Neither God's wrath nor David's enemies overtake him but rather David is overcome by God's unfailing love and the enemies are overcome with dismay.
Have you ever wondered what God would do for you when you don't deserve any favor - but you only deserve is His wrath and anger? Have you ever wondered if all the bad stuff in your life is just coincidence or if it's God's way of disciplining you? I have. And yet this Psalm declares that if we cry to Him for mercy that He will give it to us. Why? For no other reason than His unfailing love for us. Cry out to the Lord for mercy and experience His unfailing love.
