Psalm 6: Telling God You're Not Happy

[Note: This week and next, we will be going through psalms of lament. See paragraph two.]

When is the last time you weren't happy with God? Perhaps he gave you a situation that you did not enjoy, a circumstance that caused you great anguish, or a choice that you didn't want to make. Whatever the case may be, I guarantee you that sometime in the past week you were unhappy. How are we to express that to God? How are we to tell God that we are unhappy? Can we do so righteously and without sin? Surely we can, but we must be careful. Let us examine Psalm 6 this morning to see how we can righteously tell God that we're unhappy.

Psalm 6 is one of the first psalms of lament that we find in the book of Psalms. A "psalm of lament" is a pslam that, well, tells us of the psalmists "lament," that is, his sorrow. Psalms of lament show us that the psalmist is unhappy about a certain circumstance, and he wishes that it had not happened because it is bringing him much pain and anguish. Nonetheless, these psalms are some of the most beautiful, because they "give us a voice to tell God that we are unhappy with our circumstances."1 Psalm 6 is a great foundation for the next two weeks as we look at these psalms of lament because it truly summarizes what they are all about.

In these psalms of lament, we must first figure out what circumstance the psalmist is unhappy and sorrowful about. In Psalm 6, we see that David is in fact unhappy about three things: (1) bodily sickness, (2) troubled mind, and (3) enemy insults. First, the psalmist tells us in verse three that his "bones are troubled." Although some might take this for poetic language, most commentators are going to argue that this phrase is pointing us to the fact that David was in such great sorrow that it affected him phyisically. This is not unusual, and we see this in every-day life as well as our stress often makes us extremely tired or even gives us physical pain. Secondly, the psamist tells us in the first three verses that he has a troubled mind, most likely in response to a sin that he has committed (which would classify this psalm as also being "penitentiary," that is, a composition of the psalmist being sorrowful for his sin). He further says in verses six and seven that he is sleepless because he is filled with so much grief. Thirdly, the psalmist tells us in verses seven and eight that he is troubled because of his enemy's insults. There are many people that are against him and trying to overtake him, and this is surely adding to his lament. Surely David is in great anguish in both physical, mental, and social realms. Nevertheless, the psalm does not stop here.

The next thing we see in these psalms of lament is how David responds to his circumstance. In verses one through three, David responds in a plea of mercy. He knows that he has sinned, and he is pleaing that God "rebuke [him] not in [his] anger nor discipline [him] in [his] wrath." Secondly, David responds with a plea for life. He asks God to spare his life "for the sake of [God's] steadfast love." Furthermore in verse five, David asks God to spare his life in order that he might be able to praise him all the more. Amidst his horrendous circumstancs, David asks the Lord to save him both spiritually and physically.

Lastly, in these psalms of lament we see the psalmist's conclusion. In Psalm 6, and in most if not all of the other lament psalms we will look at, the conclusion is praise. The last verse of the psalm says this: "All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment." David had no other response than praise, even amidst trial, because he knew the Lord would someday triumph over all that overcame him now. For the psalmist, deep sorrow only led to praise. Lamentation only led to rejoicing. Though the walk to get there would be excruciatingly painful in all aspects, there was still hope, and surely there is for us as well.

In this psalm, we first saw that David's circumstance was physically, mentally, and socially challenging. Secondly, we saw that David responded with a plea for God to save him both physically and spiritually. Thirdly, we saw that David concluded with triumphant praise over his enemies as he was assured that the Lord would eventually deliver him from his trials. Surely there is great application for us in this psalm here today.

Matthew Henry says the following about this very psalm: "Is any sick? Is any afflicted? Let him sing this song. . . .[David] begins with doleful complaints, but ends with joyful praises." Surely he is right. How many of you this morning are unhappy with a physical, mental/emotional, or social situation? Perhaps you have physical pain and need deliverance. Perhaps you are emotionally drained or in mental turmoil. Or perhaps it seems like all those around you are against you and are trying to tear you down. Nevertheless, have hope. If you plea to the Lord for salvation from your trial, he promises to deliver you. Your deliverance might not be as quick as you want it, but amidst your trials he will teach you and conform you to the image of his son. For "it is for discipline that you have to endure" (Hebrews 12:7a). So go, and have hope in the Lord amidst your trial--for he will deliver you if you trust in him.

[Another note: I promise that these upcoming devotionals won't all be this long, but I needed to lay the foundation for the next two weeks.]

1. Credit where credit is due.. My Interpreting the Psalms professor, Dr. Howell, said this in class.