This is the first of seven Penitential Psalms - songs of confession and humility before God. It was a custom among some in the early church to sing these psalms on Ash Wednesday. Some scholars consider this only a Lament, as no indication of sin is directly mentioned.
[Psalm 6 is a gift of prayer for our darkest nights of ugly crying. Cause who hasn't cried til the bed is a'swimming in tears?]
Vs. 1-4 – Believing that his suffering is the result of God's discipline, David cries out for mercy for the sake of God's steadfast love.
The Hebrew word used for love is “chesed” or “hesed” and describes not only a steadfast or faithful love, it is a covenant love based on promises. There is no exact English equivalent for this word. David was clearly appealing to God from within His covenantal relationship. The Lord's “hesed” will never let us go. The fullness of His “hesed” - God's original covenant - was seen on the cross. We can cry out to God in confidence that nothing will separate us from His faithful, steadfast, loyal, sanctifying love.
Vs. 3 – Jesus used these same words to describe his anguish (John 12:27) but unlike David, He knew His suffering would bring God glory and salvation unto all who believe.
The superscription identifies this psalm 7 as a Shiggaion of David, “which he sang unto the Lord concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.” NKJV translates "shiggaion" as a meditation. Cush the Benjamite was a relative of Saul and apparently an enemy of David.
As David is pursued by his enemies, he declares his innocence to God as a Righteous Judge. Charles Spurgeon called this psalm, "the song of the slandered saint."
Vs. 6-8 – David's call for God to bring judgment upon his enemies causes this hymn to also be classified as an “Imprecatory Psalm”. Imprecation is calling down God’s anger and judgment on one's enemies. These psalms were not written out of vindictiveness, but are prayers asking God to provide justice and protection.
💛 NUGGET: Notice in vs. 12 that God's bow is bent. The arrow is in place. What then, is holding back His divine judgment and punishment? One word: Mercy. Better yet, two words: Undeserved Mercy.
Vs. 14 – Sin is conceived from within and given life BY the sinner, just as a mother gives birth to her children. (And I ain't gonna lie... those sin babies are U-G-L-Y !)
This psalm is also a Creation Hymn – focuses on earth & the heavens. It begins and ends by extolling the majesty of God. The chapters in between show the tension between His Majesty and Glory and our lack, thereof.
Vs.2 - ”From the mouths of babes”... Jesus chided His accusers with this passage in Matthew 21:15-16. Just as infants and nursing babies give testimony to God with their simple faith (8:2), so were the children able to recognize Jesus in the temple with shouts of “Hosanna to the son of David!”.
Vs.4-6 – Quoted in Hebrews 2:6-9 as being ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. The Majesty of Heaven came down to earth as a lowly man, but was eternally crowned with Glory and Honor.
Vs.5-8 – Essentially a commentary on Genesis 1:26-28
Psalm ends in “inclusio” (ends as it begins, creating “bookends”)
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While most believe the title “Muth-Labben” (found in the superscription) refers to a tune, others suggest that it refers to an instrument upon which the song was played. NKJV associates it with the phrase “The Death of the Son” corresponding to the ancient Chaldee inscription which states: “Concerning the death of the Champion who went out between the camps,” referring to Goliath. This song describes the Lord coming to the rescue.
In the original Greek and Latin versions, Psalms 9 and 10 are joined as one song. Together they form a partial alphabet acrostic and both psalms praise God in the role of a good Judge. But there are differences that justify their separation. Psalm 9 focuses on Thanksgiving while Psalm 10 is more of a Lament.
Vs. 8 – 1000 years after David's writing, the Apostle Paul quoted this verse to the Christians in Athens in speaking of Jesus: “He shall judge the world in righteousness.” (Acts 17:31).
Vs. 14 – Daughter Zion = Jerusalem (referring to both the city and its inhabitants)
💛 NUGGET: There is a play on words in vs. 17-18 with “forget” and “forgotten” where David illustrates a contrast between the wicked who forget God and those who are oppressed, yet never forgotten by God.
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Although this psalm is untitled and shares some similar themes with Psalm 9, it is able to stand on its own as a song decrying the prosperity of the wicked but ultimately trusting in the righteousness and sovereignty of God.
“There is not, in my judgment, a Psalm which describes the mind, the manners, the works, the words, the feelings, and the fate of the ungodly with so much propriety, fullness, and light, as this Psalm.” (Martin Luther)
Vs. 4 - The wicked believe that since they are not held accountable, there is “no God”. This type of denial of God is “practical atheism” - denying that God pays attention. “Metaphysical Atheism” is an absolute unbelief in God's existence
Vs. 17-18 – Notice David says God has heard the “desire” of the humble, rather than their “prayer”. Sometimes, we are unable to put our desires into words. Or perhaps we don't feel worthy to bring them to God. But God listens carefully and hears even our unformed prayers.
💛 When my oldest son, Lucas, was 3 and I was 7 months pregnant with my second son, we were in a horrible car wreck. It ended up being a 6-car pileup, including the semi who hit my side of the car and turned it into a twisted heap of mangled metal. I lost consciousness briefly and had a small skull laceration. Lucas had a few tiny scratches from broken glass and Jacob – in utero - never stopped kicking. We were taken by ambulance to the ER and I received stitches in my head. The doctor deemed it wise for me to stay overnight for observation. As I was being wheeled from the ER to my hospital room, I looked up to see that the halls were lined – literally lined – with friends and family who had come to check on us (small town love, y'all). When everyone finally left and I was alone in my bed, I knew I had to somehow find the words to thank God for saving our three lives. But the words wouldn't come. Hard as I tried, there were just no words big enough or holy enough to express my overwhelming gratitude. As I lay in humble stillness, I lifted my hands in supplication, silently begging God to reach into my heaped up heart and understand the depth of my love and thankfulness. Tears streamed down my face and peace flooded my soul as He listened to the desires of my heart.
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