1 To the chief musician on stringed instruments, upon Sheminith; a Psalm of David.
2 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure.
3 Be merciful unto me, O Jehovah, for I am languishing; heal me, O Jehovah, for my bones are terrified.
4 And my soul is greatly terrified; and thou, O Jehovah, how long?
5 Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul; save me for thy mercy’s sake.
6 For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall praise thee?
7 I am weary with my sighing; all the night make I my bed to swim; I cause my couch to flow down with my tears.
8 Mine eye is consumed through grief, it has grown old because of all mine adversaries.
9 Depart from me, all workers of iniquity; for Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.
10 Jehovah hath heard my supplication, Jehovah will receive my prayer.
11 All mine enemies shall be greatly ashamed and terrified; they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.
Notes on Psalm 6
As the three psalms just looked at are a cluster marked by growing confidence, the next two express the heart’s experience in sorrowful trial. Divine anger is deprecated, and mercy appealed to, in the sixth; with the prayer in the seventh which spreads before Jehovah their persecutors’ ways and the remnant’s in view of desired judgment.
Psalm 6 is “To the chief musician on stringed instruments upon Sheminith” (or the octave). We must bear in mind that David was a great inventor of musical instruments (Amos 6:55That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; (Amos 6:5)), and that they will most appropriately celebrate Jehovah’s praise in the kingdom when it comes for the world (Ps. 150, Rev. 11:1515And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)). Meanwhile we worship in spirit and in truth, as true worshippers of the Father, and are to sing with the spirit and also with the understanding (John 4, 1 Cor. 14). This is “a psalm of David.”
How plainly it is Jewish sentiment, true, holy, and proper for a people “living in the world,” as the apostle reproaches the Colossian saints that they were doing; whereas, as he insists, our relation to God is wholly and blessedly different, having died and being raised with Christ to seek and set our mind on the things above. Thus, though nationally the Jews had deserved Jehovah’s anger and wrath, the remnant know He has heard and will deliver.