Psalm 6
In this song of deep distress, the worship leader, realizing that many of God's people have to experience particularly intense trials, leads them to the only sure help. He first leads them through words of complaint, words that express their real feelings about their trials. Then, he leads them to close with an expression of triumph because there really is One Who can and will help.
Apparently the particular problem on the mind of the psalmist is truly intense. In fact, his song expresses the fearful thought that it might even be the Lord Himself Who is angry with them. With that possibility in view, he leads his fellow worshippers to cry out for mercy, to pour out all their fears, and to wail out the fact that their bodies, souls, and spirits can't take much more of the trial - that they might actually be headed for an early grave!
In a circumstance like that they're forced to cry out, "But You, O Lord - how long?" In other words, "Lord, how long are You going to ignore me? I'm DYING! Will You receive praise from me if I lie in the grave? I can't cry any harder! O deliver me!"
But then, remembering how great is the mercy of his God, remembering that He is the Covenant God of Israel, remembering that His covenant mercies are forever to them that fear Him, the psalmist realizes that the Lord really is hearing him. Then, realizing the meaning of a thought like that, his joy in the sureness of God's salvation is almost more than his fear and sorrow were previously. He suddenly turns toward all his enemies, and, almost shouting at them, says, "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the Lord has HEARD my supplication!"
Do you sometimes have needs so deep and so intense that you don't know what to do? Relief for you may be much nearer than you have imagined. Just as the writer of this psalm did – express all your pain truthfully and in detail to your merciful God. You could even sing this psalm itself to Him. Realize Who it is to Whom you cry. Realize that your Lord went through the deepest, most sorrowful experience of all - for YOU - and that He can and will therefore care for you. Then turn to Satan your enemy, and shout at him that your God has heard you!
Oh how many times that we as human beings forget to turn and tell satan that it is he who causes us all the grief that we go through and that God HAS heard our prayers. We forget to asknowledge that God is our comforter and the one who solves all our problems.
I am guilty of this at times myself.
Today this Psalm is telling me to wait upon the Lord, to be patient that he has heard my prayers and in his mercy all will be well once again. Its not that I have any great problem at this time, this is what Psalm 6 said to me this time I read it. It is the problems of the past that have already been taken care of by the Lord and perhaps at the time I didn't see his answers.
Let us never, never tire of turning to Him and saying, "Thank You, Father, for Your infinite mercy and grace - for always hearing me, correcting me, blessing me, etc.!"