The Climb (A Journey Through Psalms for Men)

Psalm 6

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your angeror discipline me in your wrath.Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.My soul is in deep anguish.How long, Lord, how long?

Turn, Lord, and deliver me;save me because of your unfailing love.Among the dead no one proclaims your name.Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weepingand drench my couch with tears.My eyes grow weak with sorrow;they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil,for the Lord has heard my weeping.The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;the Lord accepts my prayer.All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

I can distinctly remember three instances when I was younger when I lied to my parents and got caught.

I’m sure there were more, but these three times are seared into my memory and my conscience. When what I had done came to light, I felt guilty, ashamed, and ultimately helpless. Though we no longer live under the condemnation of sin and death, we still live in a broken and fallen world where there are real consequences to our sinful actions. When we choose to act on, think about, or desire things that are contrary to God’s holy righteousness, we can find ourselves in difficult situations that infiltrate all areas of our lives. The psalmist understood this reality. He was physically devastated, desperate for God’s kindness and remembrance, and on the edge of despair. And yet, he knew that if God’s answer to our troubles was dependent on our right standing, there would be no hope. So, instead of appealing to man’s strength, he says, “Deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.” God intervenes on our behalf because of HIS character, not ours. Because of His grace, not our goodness. He sustains our every breath because of His praise, not our performance. God does not magically make our difficulties disappear. This psalm doesn’t end with a 3-step solution. It ends with a man with a shifted perspective. Once again, God has drawn near. He has turned and heard from Heaven, choosing to sustain us through that which should separate us. God is our great sustainer.