Praying Through: Psalm 6

The Psalm

Psalm 6 (CSB)
For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;

3 my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, LORD—how long?

4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.

5 For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol?

6 I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.

7 My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies.

8 Depart from me, all evildoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.

The Prayer

My Holy Lord Above All,

My deeds have warranted not your affections but your attentions—attention to correct my path. However , it is not simply that, it is more serious, more deadly than that.

I continuously want death. I continuously want counterfeit. I continuously want less.

You, my Father, don’t want that for me. You want life for me. You want truth for me. You want the most for me.

I rebel. You correct. I run. You pursue. I deserve every bit of wrath. Your justice has me in your crosshairs. Surely, I would perish.

But your Son, the Infinite Bridge between God and Mankind, steps in the way and takes in all of your wrath for my sin, once, forevermore. You have no wrath left over for me. Just as Christ’s body was drained of blood and water, not one drop of your righteous wrath was left for me.

I shall not fear. I shall be corrected. As your kid, I will receive correction. You love me perfectly so and more so than I love my kids. I desire correction for my children. You desire correction so that I will be with you in the likeness of your Son forevermore.

God, hear my wailing. Hear my cries. Hear my pleas. Hear my prayers.

I ask for you and you cannot say no.

I love you.

In your Son's incredibly beautiful name, Amen.