“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long?,” PSALM 6:1-3
Here is a man who was being tested to the limit. He was exhausted. Troubled in body and soul, could he survive?
He was conscious of some grievous sin in his life; and though he deserved rebuke, he asked that the chastisement be applied in love rather than anger.
His health failed him. “My bones are troubled.” Additionally, his soul was “greatly troubled.” The mental suffering was more agonizing than the physical. It always is.
In his affliction, he had groaned until he was weary. He had cried and cried. “All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears” (verse 7).
As his enemies continued to torment him, he asked, “O Lord—how long?” How long can I endure? How long can I suffer? How long must I wait for relief? In the depths of despair, this has ever been the question on the lips of man—how long?
The writer was conscious of his weakness—“I am weak”—but this was the beginning of strength. The weakest are those who are not aware of it and never seek help. Though he was weak, he was strong enough to pray. His supplication was heard and that sufficed. There was strength enough in God, but not in himself alone. This is our lesson, and blessed are we if we learn it.
Your friend & bro in Christ,
Steve
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