Mike's Day 8: Be gracious to me ... for I am languishing

Summary: The Psalmist is waiting for God to show grace, to turn and deliver him from death and enemies (v.7). He is weary from crying and moaning. Finally, a declaration of victory as the LORD hears the Psalmist, and his enemies are put to shame.

Again, like Ps. 2, 3, 4, 5, in Pslam 6 there is a distinct narrative (could I say dramatic?) structure. The Psalmist is in some strife, asks for God to intervene (often against some form of enemy), and finally... God does! It would be interesting to compare the narrative of these songs to the dramatic structure of other songs, even modern pop songs.

In this Psalm again we have statement of the problem, and the problem in this case is: "Where is God?". There is also an acknowledgement that God is not passive in the face of evil (Ps. 5: 4-6), and the Psalmist seems to be aware that God's absence in this case may be a form of rebuke or discipline.

A take home might be: say it like it is. State your state before God. If you are 'languishing', 'shaking with terror' then this is the right Psalm for you.

Remind him of his steadfast love (actually, remind yourself of this). Finally, realise that God 'accepts' your 'prayer'.

Psalms of course are prayer. But they are also a state of being, a way of being before God.

Psalms set the music, the mood for the relationship between Israel and YHWH, or the LORD and his anointed, and the music often is raw and passionate cries for deliverance accompanied by the realisation that in the end God will deliver.

In the Psalmist coming to God with a frank mindset, we are reminded of the God who turns, delivers, hears and accepts for the sake of his steadfast love (v.4,9).