I so appreciate Sharon Garlough-Brown’s novels and study guides in her Sensible Shoes and Shades of Light series. Her questions make me think, and I get so much more from a passage when I follow guided questions to reflect on it rather than read someone else’s thoughts about Bible verses. It is far too easy to be passive, but questions make me stop and take in what I am reading. I have prayerfully devised the following five questions in a similar spirit to help you reflect on Psalm 6. I hope they are helpful.
It is thought that Psalm 6 was written by King David towards the end of his life when he may have been unwell.
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage.
2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 I am sick at heart.
How long, O Lord, until you restore me?4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.
5 For the dead do not remember you.
Who can praise you from the grave?[b]6 I am worn out from sobbing.
All night I flood my bed with weeping,
drenching it with my tears.
7 My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.8 Go away, all you who do evil,
Psalm 6, NLT
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
May they suddenly turn back in shame.
How long?
1, David asks, ‘How long, O Lord, until you restore me?’. Have you been waiting for restoration? Voice your longings to God.
How long for them?
2, Do you know someone who is also asking ‘How long?’? They may be a personal friend who is unwell or a group of people, such as those suffering due to the wars in Ukraine or Yemen. Pray for them.
When was God close?
3, David asks God to return. Can you remember a time when God was close? Recall and thank God for that memory. Ask Him to help the recollection of it to strengthen you now.
Are you confident?
4, In verse eight, the Psalm shifts gear. David is confident God has heard him. Do you share that confidence? Why? Why not?
Is it easy to believe?
5, Verse four tells us God intervenes because of his unfailing love. Is it easy to believe God loves us with unfailing love? The New Testament elaborates further: ‘But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.’ Romans 5:8 NLT. Pray for yourself and those you know that they would both comprehend and experience this greatest of loves.
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