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LESSON 1,
INTRODUCTION:
Psalm number
six is our Text ... today and tomorrow and all this week and
maybe even longer! Why Psalm six? Because it's in the Bible!
Inspired and given us of the Holy Spirit of God!
So here's our
Target Scripture:
It, Psalm 6,
begins with a "superscript."
"To the chief Musician on
Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David."
Then continues:
"O LORD, rebuke
me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot
displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O
LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore
vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my
soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is
no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee
thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed
to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed
because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath
heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my
supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Let all mine
enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be
ashamed suddenly."
Ten verses in all.
Obviously, the Psalm is filled
with sorrow.
Or grief.
Apparently the Psalmist feels he
has displeased the Lord!
Brought God's Anger upon himself.
For this reason Psalm 6 is often
called a "Penitential Psalm." Others in this group are Psalms
32, 38, 51 (especially), 102, 130 and 143. A sad "lot" of
Literature!
The writer is "sick" of sin.
"Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity," he longs in verse 8.
The first part of the Psalm is a
prayer, obviously. Verses 1 through 7, I think. I count at least
7 requests, offered in quick succession.
Then in verse 8, "daylight"
breaks! God hears his prayer! The last part of the Psalm
has a different "tone" or "mood" altogether!
"Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The
LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my
prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them
return and be ashamed suddenly."
Wow!
David begins the Chapter, the
Poem, with concern for his health, physically. He is "weak." And
his "bones" concern him. He can't sleep at night. His body
"groans" because of the malady. He might even be depressed,
crying constantly!
But by the end, it's his soul in
view. Concern over failing God! Fear he is being "chastened" by
God because of past sins. Herein he wisely examines his own
heart!
Tomorrow we shall begin.
Probably with a quick look at the
words written above verse 1, called the "superscript" to the
whole Psalm. Often these little "notes" contain critical "hints"
on how to view, how to read, the Psalms they precede.
Studying God's Word, a life-long
enjoyment!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, THE
PSALM'S SUPERSCRIPT:
Psalm 6
begins, as do dozens of Psalms, with a "superscript." That means
a little phrase or clause written "above" verse 1 of the Poem.
Here's the exact wording of the Psalm 6 "title."
"To the chief Musician on
Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David"
Wow!
I think
studying this "introduction" to Psalm 6 will comprise today's
Lesson. Basically we are here told the addressee of the Psalm,
"the chief Musician." Also we are informed as to the writer of
the Piece, "David."
But who is
the "chief Musician?" The Hebrew word for that term (really both
English words, "chief" and "musician") is "natzsach." It means
the "one who excels." The one who is "overseer." This person is
the "leader" of the choir that sings at the Jewish Temple
worship. He is a Levite and has given his whole life to the
ministry of music! He is mentioned in 55 of the Psalms! So ...
we can safely deduce that Psalm 6 is to be set to music! It will
be sung by the Sanctuary Choir soon.
The noun "Neginoth"
is a little harder to discern. It is somehow associated with
"strings," musically speaking. Once it is rendered as "stringed
instruments" in the King James Version of Scripture. By the way,
the Hebrew for this word is spelled "negiynah." So we're looking
at a near "transliteration," rather than a mere "translation."
Then "Sheminith,"
a word derived from the Hebrew noun for "eight." An ordinal
number, "eight" that comes after "seven," in other words. So now
we might be looking at an "eight-stringed" instrument. Or an
"octave" of some sort.
If so, this
Psalm comes with "notations" to the Chief Musician! Not just
"Sing this." But ... "here's how" to sing it!
Then we are
told our Paragraph is a "Psalm of David." The noun for "psalm"
is "mizmor," suggesting a "melody" or a "song." Its root word is
"zamar," maybe meaning "to pluck or to strike with one's
fingers!" As in playing a harp! If so, again we have a musical
implication.
Then the
proper noun, the Name ..."David." No doubt King David of Judah,
of Jerusalem. Then later of all Israel. His Name means
"beloved!" Clearly the idea of "love" being involved, with the
root verb "dod" meaning "to boil!" Fervent love, aggressive
love, nothing lukewarm here!
"To the chief Musician on
Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David"
Now I suggest to you having this
data will aid us in interpreting the Psalm. The Holy Spirit
often hangs the "key" to understanding a Text at that
Paragraph's "front door." I think He has again done so here.
Tomorrow, the Lord willing, verse
1 of our Chapter. It's going to surprise us, too. Not much
praise, but a lot of sorrow and pain! Yet we shall begin where
David does. And study verse by verse.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, VERSE
1:
The first
verse of Psalm 6 is astounding. This verbal adjective is
derived from the Latin, where "tonare" means "to thunder!"
Breathtaking ... shocking, stunning, that kind of impact!
Verse 1 is
remarkable because of its sheer "honesty." Listen to David:
"O
LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy
hot displeasure."
Can God be
angry, this angry?
The Hebrew is
"aph," literally meaning one's "nose, nostril." So "upset" that
a person is emotionally excited to the point he or she
breathes hard through his or her "nose or nostrils!" Visible
so, audibly so!
And God is
angry at David.
Sounds a
little bit like a guilty conscience to me!
The verb
"rebuke" is strong. And relatively rare, as well. "Yakach" means
"to judge, to chasten, to argue, to correct!"
David is
God's "child" then, under correction!
And he is
asking the Lord to "slow down" a little!
The next line
is "parallel" to the first line of the verse. Let me show you
what I mean:
Rebuke
me not in thine anger,
Neither
chasten me in thy hot displeasure."
"Rebuke" and "chasten" match.
"Anger" and "hot displeasure" do
too.
Again I say, "parallel."
This (parallelism) is the
distinguishing mark of Hebrew Poetry!
"Chasten" is "yasar," meaning "to
discipline, to admonish, to reform."
And "hot displeasure," in Hebrew
"chemah," means "fury" 67 times in the Old Testament. "Chemah"
is even translated "poison" six times in the Old Testament!
Pretty potent stuff! It's "rage" twice!
David is certainly under God's
"rod" as he writes.
Wow!
This is a New Testament Truth,
too.
God "whips" (really the idea is
"child trains") His Own children from time to time, as they need
it.
To correct them.
To teach them.
For example, Hebrews 12:5-8.
"My son, despise not thou the chastening
of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with
sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if
ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are
ye bastards, and not sons."
It's the Same Lord!
Old Testament or New.
As least when we're being
"trained" (as in "boot camp") ... we have the assurance that we
are indeed God's children! That He is our Father! That we are
not illegitimate!
Praise His Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, VERSE
2:
I stand
amazed at how much "meat" the Lord can put into a single
"sentence!" And Psalm 6:2 gives a good example:
"Have mercy upon me, O LORD;
for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed."
He pleads for
"mercy," in the midst of his troubles. Here David has many
"enemies." But more than that, some sort of "sickness" as well.
Battling on at least two fronts! Maybe some "sins" as well!
The verb
"have mercy" is the first word in the Hebrew Verse, as it is in
English. But in many languages (not English especially) "word
order" is a great help in interpretation. A sentence is "front
loaded" with its most significant ideas!
"Have Mercy,
O Lord, Jehovah God."
"Hanan" in
Hebrew means "to show favor, to be gracious, to have pity." Its
root verb means "to incline, to come down, to encamp, to dwell,
to rest" with a person! That will preach! God "coming down" to
help us!
Then notice
that David pleads his "weakness," as a basis for needing Mercy!
Not his strength, as when he slew Goliath! Or his royalty, as
sitting King! Or his wealth, as Monarch and entrepreneur. The
Hebrew for "weakness" (spelled "umlal") means "feeble," but
"drooping" as well. Exhausted, languishing.
The most
often prayed prayer in the Bible is this:
"Lord, have mercy!" And I cannot find a single time (of
well over 50 times) it is ever prayed ... but that God does not
answer positively! He is a Merciful God.
The "healing"
David needs can be physical or spiritual, or both. In Hebrew "rapha"
(to heal) is compounded into one of God's Very Names! "Jehovah-Rapha,"
as in Exodus 15:26. "And said, If thou
wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and
wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to
his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have
brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth
thee."
Wow!
In ancient
thought "bones" represented the very "framework" of one's
physicality. "Etzsem" comes from a Hebrew word that means
"strong." As the bones should be.
"Vexed" means
"troubled, afraid, dismayed," really "terrified." The man who
conquered giants, more than one, now morbidly fearful!
But asking
God for courage!
This is
certainly a form of "trust."
This is
"faith."
And this is
admirable.
Yes, this is
an example we can all readily follow, when such troubles come.
"Have mercy upon me, O LORD;
for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed."
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, VERSE
3:
I have
noticed that often (maybe up to 40% of the time, some teachers
say) the Psalms begin with the writer in "trouble" of some kind!
Yet most times (up to 95% in my opinion) that same writer is
able to (at least temporarily) thrust aside his "trials" and
praise the Lord for some aspect of Divine Being!
Psalm 6 is
also full of such "lament."
Verse 3 is
our specific focus today. David
admits: "My
soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?"
By the way,
do not miss the fact that most of these psalmists are extremely
"blunt" with the Lord they love!
Again:
"My
soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?"
Wow!
A man's
"soul" (in Hebrew "nephesh") is his "inner" being. Maybe even
his "mind, will and emotions," all combined. This word is built
on a root meaning "to breathe!" Or "to be refreshed!"
And "vexed"
is "bahal," meaning "disturbed, alarmed, terrified." Because of
many enemies, apparently. Maybe even because of some personal
sins too!
The adverb
(that's what we'd call it in English anyway) "sore" (in Hebrew "meod")
means "exceedingly" or "greatly." Actually the lexicons say "muchness!"
Or "abundance, forcefully!"
And the
question "how long" is "ad matay?" Or "ad mathay." That is "to"
or "until" about "when," O Lord?
In other
words (and this is comforting for all Believers) a man's
"trials" are "measured, limited" as from the hand of the Lord!
"How much
longer?"
God
"carefully administers" His hard work, His training in
discipline, in the lives of His little Children! For example,
the Judah's "70 years" of Babylonian Captivity, not 76 years!
Yet, even so,
our "flesh" reacts to God's Boot-Camp dealings in our lives. We
too often "kick against the pricks!" We do not submit as meekly
as we should! To His Hand of Guidance.
Also, one
reason we suffer such "calamities" is our own
unconfessed sins! Maybe we should ask ourselves, "How long wilt
thou continue in thy stubbornness?" Here's Proverbs 1:22.
"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and
fools hate knowledge?"
Wow!
God, having
asked the above question (Proverbs 1:22) then immediately
promises ... "Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my
words unto you."
Wow again!
This "how
long" question is yet asked in Heaven! Or will be in the future!
John the Revelator tells us: "And when he
had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony
which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying,
How long, O Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every
one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest
yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and
their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled." Revelation 6:9-11
God is so
gracious!
He even
allows us to "wonder" out loud, "How long?"
Our almighty
Heavenly Father knows! What a prayer: "My
times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine
enemies, and from them that persecute me." Psalm 31:15
says it all!
Amen.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, VERSE
4:
What a lovely
prayer, today's verse from Psalm 6.
Simple
grammatically, but profound theologically!
Listen to
David: "Return, O LORD, deliver my soul:
oh save me for thy mercies' sake." Psalm 6:4
Sounds
somewhat like: "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts
16:31
Or even:
"Whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10:13
Just
different contexts.
One short
verse, but containing three verbs!
I'll mark
them for you. "Return,
O LORD,
deliver my soul: oh
save me for thy mercies' sake."
And all three
verbs are in the "imperative" mood, implying "insistence" on
David's part, the Psalmist.
Wow!
Here is
earnest praying, almost desperate!
The verb
"return" is the first word in the sentence, both in English and
Hebrew. That gives it great emphasis. Everything "hinges"
on God's hearing and responding and "turning!" And "shub" indeed
means "to come back!" Also "to restore, to recover!" God
restoring "us," of course.
But the
second verb, "deliver," is the one with most "energy." It is
written in the "Piel" stem in Hebrew, expressing "intensive,
aggressive, intentional" action! "Lord, deliver me ... with
all Thy Might!"
Then "to
save," spelled "yasha" in Hebrew, means "to preserve, to rescue,
to defend, to give victory!" One noun form of "yasha" is
"Joshua," which ultimately gives us the Name of our "Saviour,"
Jesus!
Yes, He is
the One Who saves!
And these
three amazing, powerful verbs are based upon, have as their
foundation, the very "mercies" of God!
"Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save
me for thy mercies' sake."
The noun used
here is "chesed," meaning "goodness, kindness," even "pity" a
few times!
David is not
pleading his "deservedness."
Rather, God's
"Grace!"
And likely
God answered this prayer!
Whether from
enemies, bad health, fear ... no one knows for sure ... God
surely intervened!
Praise His
Good Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
HOW to pray!
LESSON 7, VERSE
5:
Today's Verse
is harder to navigate.
David writes:
"For in death there is no
remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?"
Psalm 6:5
I read this
and am perplexed!
Personally I
do not think, when David penned these words, that he knew
certain things about "death" ... at least not like we Christians
now know.
"For in death there is no
remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?"
Discouraging words.
He speaks here as if death is the
"end." As if no consciousness exists there. No "memory" at all.
Yet in Jesus' Luke 16 account of
the rich man and Lazarus, when the wealthy man expired he indeed
went to Hell. And there he did have memory, consciousness. And a
missionary burden too, for that matter!
Surely the following is true.
Jesus had not yet come when Psalm 6
was written!
That glorious Life and Death and
Burial and Resurrection had not occurred. Death had not yet been
conquered for every man, as it now has through the shed
blood of Christ our Lord!
Later the Old Testament (through
faith) can say, can promise: "I will
ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from
death: O death, I will
be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction."
Hosea 13:14
And the New Testament (through
reality) can ask: "O death, where is
thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
First Corinthians 15:55
Yes, Jesus conquered death and
the grave!
Now death is merely the devourer
of the Christian's "body," and that only temporarily!
For when we die, our spirit goes
to be with Jesus! ONLY our body will be laid in the grave! And
then only until Jesus comes again!
No, I will not in any way
"demean" our Text.
God's Word is perfect.
I will rather do what David said
cannot be done in the grave.
"For in
death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who
shall give thee thanks?"
I will give thanks to God
... for salvation!
As Paul did in First Corinthians!
"O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Verses 55-57 of that great 15th chapter of 1st
Corinthians!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, VERSE
6:
Listen to
King David as he shares his heart. Psalm 6:6 sobs:
"I am weary with my groaning; all the
night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears."
How very
"honest" the Psalms of the Bible are!
And, if you
remember, David believes what he is currently experiencing
(depression, guilt, break-down) is a result of God's being
"upset" with him. Verse 1 of this very Psalm:
"O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure."
This is an
illustration of something I heard a Preacher say years ago. "For
every sigh there is a Psalm!" In other words, for
every emotional "low" one experiences, there is a corresponding
Biblical Psalm to teach us how to properly "live" that crisis to
the Glory of God!
Now let's
carefully analyze our Verse. "I am weary
with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water
my couch with my tears."
The opening
verb is "yaga" in Hebrew, "to be wearied" in English. It
literally means "to toil, to labor hard," even "to faint." The
noun "groaning" is "anachah," hinting at "mourning," as when a
loved one dies. It's an expression of great distress.
"All night"
tells us he's getting no sleep, no rest ... crying copious
tears! "To swim" utilizes a verb that is rare, "sachah" is only
used 3 times in the whole Bible! Here and twice in Isaiah 25:11.
"And
he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that
swimmeth
spreadeth forth his hands
to swim: and he
shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their
hands."
Jeremiah used
similar language. "Oh
that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of
my people!"
Jeremiah 9:1
This is major
emotional upheaval!
"To water
one's couch", that clause uses an unusual verb as well. "Masah"
normally means "to melt, to dissolve," even "to consume away."
But none of these definitions "fit" the context here, the
setting in which David is living. He is not "dissolving" his
couch! His bed is not literally "melting." So the King James
translators opted for a synonym, "to water." Precisely "to
liquefy!"
Interesting.
David's "bed"
and "couch" mentioned in a single verse.
A place from
which David normally arose anyway, at midnight!
Why?
How do we
know?
He clearly
tells us in Psalm 119:62. "At midnight I
will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous
judgments."
Wow!
Maybe the
sleepless nights originally produced by sorrow and stress and
heartache ... eventually led to the habit of sleeplessness ...
to the extent that every midnight David is found
"thanking" the Lord, "worshipping" his Great God!
Yes, God can
turn sobs into shouts!
Hallelujah!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9, VERSE 7:
It's called a
"lament."
And it's
practically a "confession" of sin as well.
Psalm 6.
Today we have
arrived at verse 7. And David is still upset.
"Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it
waxeth old because of all mine enemies."
The noun
"grief" is "kaas," meaning "grief" 7 times in the Old Testament,
but "wrath" 4 times! And "provocation" 7 times! "Anger" too, 3
more times! A "mixture" of feelings, topsy-turvy!
"To wax old"
means "to continue, to proceed, to advance," athaq" in Hebrew.
He is aging, fast! The pressure, the stress.
Why all this?
Now David
becomes more specific.
"Because ..."
In Hebrew the
preposition spelled "be" is here going to tell us (in David's
estimation) the "reason" for his emotional upheaval.
"Because of all mine enemies."
The noun "enemies" is "tzsarar," people who "bind, constrict,
limit, afflict, vex, put in distress, besiege."
David is a "hunted" man.
A "hated" man.
And here he brings his burdens to the Lord!
If I may word it this way: sounds like David is about "fed
up!"
"Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it
waxeth old because of all mine enemies."
Praying, "Lord, You must help me!"
This is parallel to Peter's advice.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
First Peter 5:7
We all must learn the lesson.
To continue to grow in Christ.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Yes, the noun "enemies" is plural, indicating "many" of them!
He's fighting on multiple fronts, it seems. As did Job. As did
Paul. And certainly, as did our Lord Jesus!
LESSON 10, VERSE 8:
It's verse 8
this morning!
And here the
clearly Psalm "changes" course.
Instead of
"defense," it boldly shifts to "offense!"
"Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping."
Psalm 6:8
The
"challenge" is voiced beautifully!
Speaking
directly to his enemies, plural, more than one:
"Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity."
The verb
"depart" is "sur," meaning "to turn aside." Wow, the "repellant"
of prayer! This verb is a command, too, imperative mood.
David's
enemies, in this case anyway, are not "personal" in nature. But
these men are "enemies" of righteousness as well. Ungodly
workers!
But "why"
would such enemies leave?
What's the
"force" behind the command?
Here:
"For the LORD hath heard the voice of my
weeping."
My prayers
have been answered!
The Lord has
"heard!"
My enemies
will be "scattered!"
Here's the
first note of victory in the whole chapter!
David has
conquered ... via prayer!
By the way,
it is evident that one may wage battle in his or her prayers.
And also that a person might be able to "know" when God has
heard his or her supplications!
This is an
amazing verse!
"Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping."
Psalm 6:8
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 11, VERSE 9:
Not often
does the Bible say something, the same thing, three times
in a row! Triple parallelism, one might call it!
Yet David, in
our Text, does this very thing!
Here's the
last line of Psalm 6:8 and then both lines of Psalm 6:9. You
will immediately see what I mean.
"The LORD hath heard the voice
of my weeping."
"The LORD
hath heard my supplication."
"The LORD will
receive my prayer."
Wow!
Talk about
assurance!
No doubt this
prayer is going to be "answered!"
The first
line, it's verb "hath heard," is the same word (in Hebrew "shama")
as appears in the second line. "Completed action," He has
already "heard."
However the
last line, it's verb "will receive," is "laqach" in Hebrew,
meaning "to grab, to fetch, to lay hold of, to seize!" And this
verb is an "imperfect" indicating that the action is not
"complete," but "incomplete." In other words, God is
still receiving
the prayer or prayers!
Aggressively
so!
What victory,
to know such a thing.
So
completely!
A Psalm, a
God-inspired Poem, that began so "low" ... ending on such a
"high" plane!
Notice the
first three verses once again. "O LORD,
rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot
displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O
LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore
vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?"
And next,
before you know it ... "God has heard!"
Surely!
This is
revival!
Clearly, God
has now "had Mercy" on David.
Has given him
the "healing" he so badly needed.
Has
"strengthened" his trusting child.
Somehow (via
the Ministry of the Holy Spirit I suggest) God
has revealed to
David that he has been heard!
And I further
submit to you ... God can do the same thing for us yet today!
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Jesus in John 14:13.
Or John 16:23
... "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give
it you."
And perhaps
even First John 2:20 ... "But ye have an
unction from the Holy One, and
ye know all
things." An "anointing" from the Holy Spirit, thus
"knowing" ... even when God has "heard" your prayers?
Very
possible!
At least at
times.
I pray
today's Lesson will be an encouragement to someone. Someone who
is bombarding Heaven for a very special need. May the "answer"
come today! Or at least the "peace" that God has "heard, has
"received" your petition.
Amen.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 12, VERSE 10:
Now we have
arrived at verse 10, the last section, the last 2 sentences in
the 6th Psalm. David's prayer continues. But it has now
turned yet again!
At first he
focused on himself, his ills.
Then on
God Alone, His Power to hear and answer prayer.
In the end he
prays concerning his enemies.
The prayer,
this last bit, is an "imprecation." Loosely, this noun means "to
pray" down "wrath" upon a person.
Here's the
verse for today: "Let all mine enemies be
ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed
suddenly." Psalm 6:10
The word for
"enemies" is "oyeb" in Hebrew, meaning one's "foe." The noun is
derived from "ayab" which means "hostility, hatred." They hated
David!
"To be
ashamed" is spelled "bush" (pronounced "boosh") and means "to
disappoint." Also "to confound or confuse." Even "to delay," as
in frustrating a person.
The adverb
"sore" is "meod," expressing degree, so "exceedingly" (very
much, greatly) in is view, quantitatively so.
And "vexed"
is "bahal," the very word that described the Psalmist David
earlier in the Poem, in the Chapter. Psalm 6:3 ...
"My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O
LORD, how long?"
David is
actually praying that
his former heartaches now be poured forth
on his enemies!
Divine retribution is being sought! Vengeance belongs to God ...
here He (the Lord) is being asked to deliver some of it! See
Romans 12:19 for my proof text. "It
is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord."
Isaiah 63:4 supplies us Paul's
source for the quote.
Wow!
Our verse
again: "Let all mine enemies be ashamed
and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly."
Psalm 6:10
The second
clause merely repeats the request of the first clause, just more
intensely. "Let them return," means
something like "turn them around," Lord. Drive them away from my
presence!
Splash
another bucket full of "shame" on them too, please! "Suddenly"
confuse them! Here "rega" means "in a moment!" Or (only once in
the Old Testament) "instantly!"
Yes, the
Psalms have numerous such prayers.
Remember,
they are imprecations.
We sort of
pray this way ourselves. Even when we pray what's often called
"The Lord's Prayer!" The petition, "Thy
Kingdom come." Where we are inviting God's Holy
Wrath to be poured out on all wickedness and for Jesus to set
all things right. Which will involve war!
Folks, give
me one more Lesson on Psalm 6, please. I want to use it to
"summarize" our whole Text ... and maybe take an "overview" of
what's been said. What David said.
The Lord
willing, tomorrow.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Pray today
for the eventual defeat of Satan!
That's
imprecation too.
LESSON 13, DAVID'S QUESTION:
The question
is asked several times in the Bible, especially in the Psalms.
"How long, O Lord?" In Psalm 6, our
Text this week, we find the same query. This time from David.
"Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am
weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is
also sore vexed: but
thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul:
oh save me for thy mercies' sake." Psalm 6:2-3
"But Thou, O Lord, how long?"
Notice
something with me today, three things in fact.
When God is
"whipping" His children, like you and me, He does have "limits"
to His chastening! (Yes, David feels he is being so chastised.
"O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." Psalm 6:1)
Time limits?
Yes!
The Jews were
left in Egypt precisely "four hundred and thirty years." Then,
it was "time" for the exodus! "Now
the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt,
was four hundred and
thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the
four hundred and thirty
years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all
the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt."
Exodus
12:40-41
And Judah in
Babylonian Captivity? Exactly "seventy years." Here's Daniel
9:2. "In the first year of his reign I
Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the
word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would
accomplish seventy years
in the desolations of Jerusalem."
Jeremiah read
Daniel's prophecy, too. "And
it shall come to pass, when
seventy years are
accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and
that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of
the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations."
Jeremiah
25:12
Then notice
too this, secondly.
Asking God
"how long" can often show our impatient nature. As in:
"Hurry up, Lord. This 'whipping' is painful!"
For example,
at another time in David's life he is humbly willing to
take his "punishment" for sins committed.
"And when king David (fleeing his Throne, fleeing Absalom) came
to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the
house of Saul, whose name was
Shimei, the son
of Gera: he came forth, and
cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king
David: and all the people and all the mighty men were
on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when
he cursed, Come out,
come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial. The
Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul,
in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered
the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou
art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."
Second Samuel 16:5-8
Here's
humiliation!
Here's
persecution!
Denigrating a
King!
But David did
not here ask "How long, O Lord?"
Rather, he
meekly took his "whipping." He was abdicating because of past
sins in his life.
And David's
body guard wanted to "kill" this cursed little Shimei.
"Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto
the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?
let me go over, I pray
thee, and take off his head." Let me behead him,
Sir! Second Samuel 16:9
Now listen to
David. "Let
him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who
shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to
Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came
forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may
this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him
curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD
will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me
good for his cursing this day."
Second Samuel 16:10-12, "I
deserve all I'm getting!"
Wow!
No "How long,
O Lord" here!
The notice
this, lastly.
Maybe the
Lord had earlier asked us the same question, "How long?" In
Proverbs 1:22 God certainly asks: "How
long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners
delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?"
Or Proverbs 6:9.
"How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?"
Our "How
long?" might not have ever been asked ... had we listened better
to His "How long?" months ago!
Back to
today's Verse, but I hope with more insight.
"My soul is also sore vexed:
but thou, O LORD, how
long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy
mercies' sake."
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 14, DAVID'S WISDOM:
The Psalms of
the Old Testament, in many ways, teach us how to live!
How to respond to the great God Who created us ... and
subsequently sent His only begotten Son to die to redeem us.
David again
"models" Wisdom in today's Lesson, a conclusion derived from the
few brief Verses of Psalm 6.
Here's the
"crux" (the "heart") of the Truth I want to emphasize this
Thursday morning. Here's Psalm 6:2-7, the "middle" of the Poem.
"Have mercy upon me, O LORD;
for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return,
O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For
in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave
who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the
night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of
all mine enemies."
The more
David experienced "trials" and "hardships" in his life, the more
he "examined" himself spiritually.
Notice from
the Scripture above, he is "weak."
And he is in
need of God's "healing" Touch.
Even his
"soul" (his mind and will and emotions) is upset, under duress.
He fears he
is nearing death.
He can't
sleep.
He cries
uncontrollably, all night long, time and time again.
He is
experiencing morbid grief.
And he has
many enemies, apparently with God no longer "defending" the King
from them.
Yes, he does
have "troubles!"
But what does
godly David deduce from such events?
From "serial"
trials?
From multiple
problems, like Job encountered?
He "takes
stock," spiritually!
He wonders,
"Have I sinned?"
"Is the Lord
'whipping' me for wrongdoing?"
David's very
words: "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine
anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." Psalm
6:1, its opening words!
That is ...
when something goes wrong, or a number of somethings,
check you life!
Your relationship with God!
The God Who
would later have His Man write: "My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou
art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 12:5-6
This is the
David who grew to pray (especially in light of life's
difficulties) Psalm 139:23-24. "Search me,
O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see
if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting." In fact, David wrote these words, Wow!
Then Paul
again adds, "Examine yourselves, whether
ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." Second
Corinthians 13:5
Christian
friends, don't "laugh off" the trials that come your way.
And certainly
do not simply blame them on "fate" or "bad luck" or mere
"coincidence."
Use your hard
times to ... at least ... take spiritual inventory of your life!
Let the
issues of life "exercise" you in godliness! Hebrews 12:11
teaches us: "Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are
exercised thereby."
Then the
Psalmist once again (maybe even David himself) testifies ...
"It
is good for me that I
have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
Psalm 119:71
This is just
the "beginning" too ... of the Bible's "theology" of suffering.
How God can "teach" us through hard times. And how these trails
may be times of chastening from our Heavenly Father!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Yes, in this
instance David was wise, extremely so.
By the way,
even if you have not "sinned," even if you apparently are not
enduring "chastening" ...
you are still wise
for having performed such a "maintenance check" on your life!
LESSON 15, TWO SUMMARIZING THOUGHTS:
We have
completed our Verse by Verse Study of Psalm 6. I just need
another day or two for reflection, maybe mentioning a thought or
two I had earlier omitted.
And old
writer said this, though I have updated his vocabulary: "God has
two ways by which He brings His children to obedience. Number
one, by His Word, the Bible! Through Scripture God
"rebukes" us verbally. Number two, by His Rod, through
which He chastens us corporally!
When we
neglect the first of these (the Scripture) ... we will
experience the second of these (the scourging) that follows.
That's worth
pondering ... and repeating!
And that's an
integral part of the Message of Psalm 6.
Now further
...
Look with me
at David's "mood" in Psalm 6. He is indeed "broken." But
specifically, he is "weak" in verse 2. He is "vexed" in verse 3.
He is near "death" in verse 5. He is "weary" and "weepy" in
verse 6. And he is "grieved" in verse 7.
He is "lowly"
indeed.
Obviously, he
is "afraid!"
Yet this is
the same David who fought a lion and a bear and conquered both!
Who "killed" Goliath the Giant in a mighty act of valor! Who is
not normally afraid of anything or anyone!
Then ... why
is he so upset here?
Because he
has encountered the displeasure (through sin apparently) of
Almighty God!
What the lion
or bear of giant could not do ... "shake" David's stamina ...
his "Fear of the Lord" did!
David versus
natural foes ... bold and defiant!
David versus
the Lord ... meek, humble, submissive!
And I say
this is "commendable."
May we too
quietly submit to the Lord's Hand in our lives.
Now, God
willing, tomorrow I have yet another truth I'd like to share.
Then soon we'll be staring a new Series of Lessons on yet
another Portion of God's Word!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 16, CONCLUSION:
This is our
last "Psalm 6" Lesson. Just 2 or 3 "comments" about this great
little Poem. Inspired of God, without error, Holy Scripture! It
is clearly labeled "A Psalm of David."
"O
LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy
hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I
am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3
My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies'
sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance
of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I
am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim;
I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is
consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine
enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will
receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed
and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
Notice David
is "crying" because he is being "chastened of God, verse 1. He
is being "rebuked" by the Almighty! God's "anger" is being
directed toward the (now, finally) repentant King!
Note verse 6
especially, in the light of the "setting" of the Psalm.
"I
am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to
swim; I water my couch with my tears."
How ironic!
If, as some commentators suspect, David is grieving over his sin
with Bathsheba, the adultery that led to so much bloodshed ...
his crying is on his "bed," all night long!
Why is this
"ironic?"
Because
that's where the sin was committed, an immoral relationship with
another man's Wife! He had "fun" on his bed. He "sinned" on his
bed. Now he weeps and grieves and hurts on that same bed!
Truthfully,
God is never mocked, not successfully. He always has the last
word! Whatever a man sows (or woman either)
that shall he (or she) also reap!
Then ...
I read this
in an old Book, a study of Psalm 6. I paraphrase now. "Pirates
do not generally attack an empty ship, a mere floating
barge not loaded with goods! They only try to rob a vessel
heavily loaded with riches! So does the devil not as often
bother an empty Christian, one not loaded with spiritual fruit!
He, rather, harasses and seeks to strip the
sincere Believer in Christ who is vibrant, profitable, maturing
in Christ Jesus the Lord!"
Wow! Maybe
this thought alone will "encourage" some Child of God today, one
whom the Devil has "bothered" all week! At least you drew that
Rascal's attention, Satan's. You must be doing something
"right."
Then, in
conclusion ...
An old
Preacher left this thought with us. Prayer is the 'leech' of the
soul. It completely "sucks" the venom and poison and swelling of
sin away! As we confess our wrongs to the Lord! Psalm 6 is such
a prayer.
Prayer is
like an "exorcist" with God! It "casts out" the sin and misery
and heartache of our past failures. Brings peace with God, like
rubbing healing ointment on an ugly sore! This is possible
through the shed Blood of Jesus, of course.
And then, did
you see how the Psalm "progresses" from start to finish?
Initially David is "low." Yet by verse 10 he is victoriously
"soaring" in the heavenlies! That's often the trajectory of
prayer! It finds us in "despair." But usually leaves us
"triumphing, assured of forgiveness and pardon!"
Psalm 6,
three weeks ago I had no idea it contained such beauty!
But such is
the reality of the Word of God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
We have certainly enjoyed you studying
with us! Stay "in" the Word of God. There we find food for our
souls.
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