Psalms 6:10

Verse Psalms 6:10. Ashamed and sore vexed] May they as deeply deplore their transgressions as I have done mine! May they return; may they be suddenly converted! The original will bear this meaning, and it is the most congenial to Christian principles.

ANALYSIS OF TEE SIXTH PSALM

The parts of this Psalm are TWO, in general: -

I. A petition to God for himself, contained in the first seven verses.

II. The account of his restoration, contained in the three last.

I. The petition consists of two parts: 1. Deprecation of evil; 2. Petition for good.

1. He prays to God to avert his wrath: "O Lord, rebuke me not," c.

2. He entreats to be partaker of God's favour: "Have mercy upon me," c. 1. To his BODY: "Heal me, O Lord." 2. To his SOUL: "Deliver my soul: O save me!"

He enforces his petition by divers weighty reasons:

1. From the quantity and degrees of his calamity, which he shows to be great from the effects. 1. In general he was in a languishing disease: "I am weak." 2. In particular 1. Pains in his bones: "My bones are vexed." 2. Trouble in his soul: "My soul also is troubled."

2. From the continuance of it. It was a long disease; a lingering sickness; and he found no ease, no, not from his God. The pain I could the better bear if I had comfort from heaven. "But thou, O Lord, how long?" Long hast thou withdrawn the light of thy countenance from thy servant.

3. From the consequence that was likely to follow; death, and the event upon it. It is my intention to celebrate and praise thy name; the living only can do this: therefore, let me live; for in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

4. And that he was brought now to the gates of death, he shows by three apparent symptoms: 1. Sighs and groans, which had almost broken his heart; the companions of a perpetual grief: "I am weary of my groaning." 2. The abundance of his tears had dried and wasted his body: "He made his bed to swim, and watered his couch with his tears." 3. His eyes also melted away, and grew dim, so that he seemed old before his time: "My eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old."

6. That which added to his sorrow was, he had many ill-wishers who insulted over him: "Mine eye is waxen old because of mine enemies."

II. But at last receiving comfort and joy, he is enabled to look up; and then he turns upon his enemies, who were longing for his destruction: "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."

He magnifies God's mercy; and mentions its manifestation thrice distinctly: 1. "The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping." 2. "The Lord hath heard my supplication." 3. "The Lord will receive my prayer."

Then follows his prophetic declaration concerning them:

1. Shame and confusion to see their hope frustrated: "They shall be confounded."

2. Vexation, to see the object of their envy restored to health and prosperity: "They shall be sore vexed."

3. They shall return to their companions with shame, because their wishes and plots have miscarried.

4. He intimates that this shame and confusion shall be speedy: "They shall return, and be ashamed suddenly." Or, possibly, this may be a wish for their conversion, ישבו yashubu, let them be CONVERTED, רגע raga, suddenly, lest sudden destruction from the Lord should fall upon them. Thus the genuine follower of God prays, "That it may please thee to have mercy upon our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers; and to TURN their HEARTS." A Christian should take up every thing of this kind in a Christian sense.