God’s Answer to Our Enemies – Psalm 6

Here is another lament psalm (with a hint of confession of sin), but with a twist.  David has poured out his soul to Yahweh concerning the oppression from his enemies, asking God to deliver him, but he has then seen his prayer answered, or at least heard a prophecy that his enemies will be turned back.  So this is a lament turned into a praise and confidence psalm.  Does David actually tell the “workers of evil” to depart from him?  Probably not.  This is likely rhetorical.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.  Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.  My soul also is greatly troubled.  But you, O LORD—how long?

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.  For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.  My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.  The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.  All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.  (Psalm 6 ESV)

It appears that David is guilty of sinning against God and that his enemies are using this to their advantage to leverage their bid for power, maybe even have him killed.  But David has recognized his failure and appeals to God’s grace and steadfast love.  He doesn’t make excuses for his disobedience but recounts his emotional pain and grief in repentance and his fear of how his enemies will use this.  He experiences God’s forgiveness and commands his enemies to depart from him, knowing that though he was the one troubled, now they will be greatly troubled and shamed by God’s judgment in their lives.

Is this an appropriate psalm for you to pray?  Perhaps your sin has been an occasion for your enemies to attack you.  It certainly has drawn the attention of Satan’s demons to attack.  Lament your problem to God, confess your sin, and listen for His answer.

Jesus predicted quoting this part of the psalm in the judgment, “Depart from me, all you workers of evil,”  when describing those who were really his enemies but who claimed to be on his side (Matthew 7:21-23).  They will instead receive eternal separation from him and his kingdom.  God knows those who are truly His and whose hearts are truly repentant, as a believer’s heart will be.