FRAMING THE PSALMS: PSALM 6

Aids to introduce the psalms sung in worship.

John Brown of Haddington, 18^th century Scottish theologian.

Observe here, (1.) David, a great saint, under grievous and manifold troubles, sickness of body, conscience-felt charges of guilt, vexation of mind, attended with desertion from God, and contemptuous insults from his enemies, ver. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. (2.) His supplications, with strong cries and tears, to God for mitigation of trouble, support under it, and deliverance from it, ver. 1, 4, 6. (3.) His triumphant separation of himself from the wicked, in the full assurance of faith, that God had heard, and would graciously grant his requests, and would either convert or destroy his opposers, ver. 8, 10.

In all my afflictions, let me believe that Jesus was afflicted for me. Let me call my sin to remembrance, spread my case before him, fill my mouth with arguments; implore his abundant, free, and sovereign mercy, as my sole and all-comprehensive relief. Nor let me ever expect a comfortable answer to my prayers, while I cultivate an intimacy with profane and wicked men.

John Cumming, 19^th century Scottish Presbyterian.

David, believing that his sinfulness, original and actual, had drawn down, the displeasure of God, and feeling the effects of present chastisement, and the fears of death everlasting, implores (verses 1, 2, 3) forgiveness, and the withdrawal of God's heavy hand. In verses 4 — 7, he longs for the renewal of God's loving kindness, and pleads for mercy, while he describes the intensity of his sorrows and the resolutions he has formed to separate himself from sin and sinners. God answers while he calls, and leads David to anticipate the overthrow of all his enemies.

Has a sense of our sin ever caused us to sorrow as deeply as David? And has our sorrow proved itself a godly sorrow, by our separation from the world and its wicked ones? Let us beseech our Redeemer, who is exalted, to give repentance, to enable us to appropriate the language of David in this penitential Psalm.

David Dickson   Scottish Covenanter, 17^th century

Another experience of David, useful to be known by all the children of God, who are subject to the like exercise; wherein David, being under the sense of the Lord's heavy hand, upon his body and Spirt, prayeth for the removal of self wrath, ver. 1, 2, 3. Next prayeth for the renewed feeling and experience of God's mercy towards him, laying forth his lamentable condition before the pitiful eye of God,ver. 4, 5, 6, 7. After which, being heard and comforted, in the third place, he defieth and triumpheth over all his enemies, ver. 8, 9.