Psalm 6--O LORD, Deliver My Life

Psalm 6
World English Bible

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David.
6 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger,
    neither discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint.
    Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul is also in great anguish.
    But you, Yahweh—how long?
4 Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul,
    and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
5 For in death there is no memory of you.
    In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?
6 I am weary with my groaning.
    Every night I flood my bed.
    I drench my couch with my tears.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief.
    It grows old because of all my adversaries.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity,
    for Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 Yahweh has heard my supplication.
    Yahweh accepts my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed.
    They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.

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David knows he is guilty of sin, and David that He needs the LORD's rebuke and discipline for what he has done.  David prays that God does not act out of anger and wrath as we sometime do as humans.  However, God's correction and discipline are perfect, and even though He has righteous anger, He never looses control.  David does the only thing he can do when he realizes He stands guilty before a righteous and holy God--he cries out for grace and mercy.

David tells the LORD that he is weak and in need of healing.  He needs relief from the physical, mental and emotional pain and anguish he is going through.  He asks the LORD how long He intends to wait before saving David from himself and the consequences of his actions.

David feels like he is dying and perhaps he rightly believes that he committed a sin unto death, but he desires to live longer so that he has more time to worship the LORD and to lead others in worship of Him.  David argues that the dead cannot glorify the LORD (at least, not in the same way that the living can).

David is in so much pain (again, physical and emotional as well as some mental anguish) that he lays in bed every night and can't sleep, but instead cries until his bed and couch are both soaked with tears.  David seems to blame this at least in part of his adversaries, and he needs the LORD's help in dealing with them, for his enemies are watching him suffer and are mocking him to make his emotional suffering even worse.  Jesus also experienced this on the cross when going through great pain and suffering, but He cried out "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  David is almost certain that his enemies are plotting against him during his time of weakness.  He needs the LORD to fight for him and restore his strength not just for himself, but for His people Israel. 

He speaks prophetically against all those who would plot to do evil during the time that David is suffering because the LORD has heard David's cry and plea for help and salvation, and David knows that the LORD will answer and will once again deliver His people.  When the LORD responds, David knows that it will be his enemies that will be ashamed and dismayed and they will face sudden disgrace.  David is not asking for the LORD to heal him so that he can take vengeance on his enemies, but, instead he is entrusting the LORD to correct and punish his enemies in His way and in His time (maybe in this life or maybe in the final judgment that awaits the wicked).  God's choice in whether to save or judge these wicked men does not affect David because he knows the LORD has heard his cry and will answer him and that one day, sin will be punished.