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PSALM 6
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
Prayer For Mercy in Time of Trouble MT Intro "For the choir director; with stringed instruments, upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David" |
A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress |
Prayer for Healing From a Severe Illness |
A Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble |
Supplication in Time of Trial |
6:1-3 | 6:1-3 | 6:1-3 | 6:1-3 | 6:1-3 |
6:4-5 | 6:4-5 | 6:4-5 | 6:4-5 | 6:4-5 |
6:6-7 | 6:6-7 | 6:6-7 | 6:6-7 | 6:6-8a |
6:8-10 | 6:8-10 | 6:8-10 | 6:8-10 | |
6:8b-10 |
READING CYCLE THREE(see " Guide to Good Bible Reading")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 6:1-3
1O
Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O
Lord, for I am pining away;
Heal me, O Lord,
for my bones are dismayed.
3And
my soul is greatly dismayed;
But
You, O Lord—how long?
6:1 There are two IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES.
This is a penitential psalm, as are Psalm 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The Jewish Study Bible (p. 1289) says that this Psalm of supplication has become the liturgical weekday morning prayer of Jewish people.
▣ "in Your anger. . .in Your wrath" The Psalm does not say why YHWH is angry (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN, I. C.). It may reflect the OT theology of one causation. The psalmist had enemies, YHWH allowed/sent them (cf. Ps. 6:3). Life's circumstances are
However, one never knows which it is, so repent and have faith!
6:2-3 Notice how "dismayed" (BDB 96, KB 111, Niphal PERFECT) is related to both
Both of these were ways of referring to a person's innermost life and thoughts. This writer is in great distress and does not know why (i.e., like Job)!
6:2 As Ps. 6:1 asks YHWH for what not to do, Ps. 6:2 asks YHWH to (also note Ps. 6:4)
The VERB "heal" does not necessarily relate to a physical illness (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1166, c, cf. Isa. 1:5-6), but to the attack of adversaries (cf. Ps. 6:7b, 10). However, verse 2 leaves open the possibility of an illness. If an illness, why are adversaries mentioned? Some would say the enemies made fun of the psalmist (cf. Psalm 102:8) in his illness. The ancient Israelites believed sin and sickness were related.
6:3 "how long" This is the cry of the human person made in God's image but trapped in a fallen mind, body, and world (cf. Ps. 13:1; 74:10; 90:13)! As believers we must trust in God, not circumstances, but still we cry out—why? When will it be over?
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 6:4-5
4Return,
O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your
lovingkindness.
5For
there is no mention of You in death;
In
Sheol who will give You thanks?
6:4 As Ps. 6:2 asks YHWH to act on the psalmist's behalf (i.e., "be gracious. . .heal"), so too, Ps. 6:4.
Notice the reason given for the requests is not the worth or merit of the psalmist but the unchanging, merciful character of the covenant creator/redeemer Deity!
One wonders what "return" in this context means. Did the psalmist think YHWH had departed or hid Himself?
SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)
SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)
▣ "lovingkindness" This is the wonderful covenant NOUN!
6:5 Psalm 6:5 gives the OT view of the afterlife. Sheol was a place of consciousness but no joy or praise. The whole issue of conscious existence beyond physical death is developed through Scripture (i.e., Progressive Revelation). There are only hints in the OT (cf. Job 14:14-15; 19:25-27; Ps. 16:10; 49:15; 86:13; Isa. 25:8; 26:19; Ezek. 37:12-13; Dan. 12:1-2; Hos. 13:14). The full truth is revealed in 1 Corinthians 15!
The Hebrew Sheol (BDB 982) refers to the realm of the dead. It is characterized by
SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?, I. B.
Notice the author specifically mentions that in his understanding of Sheol, there is no
The Tyndale OT Commentary Series (vol. 15, p. 78) lists the imagery used in the OT for Sheol.
Thank God for a New Testament!
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 6:6-7
6I
am weary with my sighing;
Every
night I make my bed swim,
I
dissolve my couch with my tears.
7My
eye has wasted away with grief;
It
has become old because of all my adversaries.
6:6-7 The psalmist describes his physical and emotional trauma caused by his "adversaries" (BDB 865, KB 1058, Qal PARTICIPLE, "those who show hostility").
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 6:8-10
8Depart
from me, all you who do iniquity,
For
the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
9The Lord
has heard my supplication,
The
Lord receives my prayer.
10All my enemies will be
ashamed and greatly dismayed;
They
shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed.
6:8-10 The psalmist comes to a place of mental relief as he trusted in YHWH, who has heard his prayer (cf. Ps. 28:6). This is expressed in three parallel lines (i.e., Ps. 6:8b, 9a, 9b).
Because of YHWH's acceptance of the prayer the adversaries
Numbers 2-5 are all IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense. The psalmist seeks the presence of YHWH but the absence of his foes! What they tried to do to him is now done to them! This literary structure (i.e., reversal) is typical of the OT. What humans expect is often opposite of what YHWH brings about (i.e., Isa. 55:8-11).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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