Psalms 6:3

_MY SOUL IS ALSO SORE VEXED: BUT THOU, O LORD, HOW LONG?_ My soul is ... sore vexed - as well as my body, of which the "bones are vexed" (Psalms 6:2). Compare the transfer of the "sore vexed" to his enemies (Psalms 6:10). HOW LONG? - i:e., 'How long wilt thou be angry? (Psalms 79:5:) aposiopesis. The broken-off sentence marks the agitated spirit, wearying of the long delay. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12); especially in those troubles in which suspense between hope and fear is intolerable....

3._And thou, O Jehovah, how long? _This elliptical form of expression serves to express more strongly the vehemence of grief, which not only holds the minds of men bound up, but likewise their tongues, breaking and cutting short their speech in the middle of the sentence. The meaning, however, in this abrupt expression is doubtful. Some, to complete the sentence, supply the words, _Wilt thou afflict me, or continue to chasten me _? Others read, _How long wilt thou delay thy mercy _? But what is stated in the next verse shows that this second sense is the more probable, for he there prays to the Lord to look upon him with an eye of favor and compassion. He, therefore, complains that God has now forsaken him, or has no regard to him, just as God seems to be far of from us whenever his assistance or grace does not actually manifest itself in our behalf. God, in his compassion towards us, pe...

1-7 These verses speak the language of a heart truly humbled, of a broken and contrite spirit under great afflictions, sent to awaken conscience and mortify corruption. Sickness brought sin to his remembrance, and he looked upon it as a token of God's displeasure against him. The affliction of his body will be tolerable, if he has comfort in his soul. Christ's sorest complaint, in his sufferings, was of the trouble of his soul, and the want of his Father's smiles. Every page of Scripture proclaims the fact, that salvation is only of the Lord. Man is a sinner, his case can only be reached by mercy; and never is mercy more illustrious than in restoring backsliders. With good reason we may pray, that if it be the will of God, and he has any further work for us or our friends to do in this world, he will yet spare us or them to serve him. To depart and be with Christ is happiest for the sain...

Verse Psalms 6:3. _HOW LONG?_] How long shall I continue under this malady? How long will it be before thou speak peace to my troubled heart?...

MY SOUL IS ALSO SORE VEXED - The word “soul” here is used in the sense in which it is commonly with us, as denoting the mind. The idea is, that his sorrows were not merely those of the bodily frame. They had a deeper seat than even the bones. His mind, his soul, was full of anguish also, in view of the circumstances which surrounded him, and which had brought on these bodily afflictions. BUT THOU, O LORD - This is a broken sentence, as if he had commenced an address to God, but did not complete it. It is as if he had said, “Here I suffer and languish; my sorrows are deep and unmitigated; as for thee, O Lord” - as if he were about to say that he had hoped God would interpose; or, that his dealings were mysterious; or, that they seemed strange or severe; but he ends the sentence by no language of complaint or complaining, but by simply asking “how long” these sorrows were to continue....

EXPOSITION This is the first of what have been called "the Penitential Psalms." It has been said that "there is much of grief in it, but nothing of penitence." The grief, however—such grief (see verse 6)—can scarcely be supposed to have arisen from any other source than consciousness of sin. dud grief of this kind is a main element in penitence. The title ascribes the psalm to David, and declares it to be addressed, like Psalms 4:1; "to the Chief Musician on Neginoth," by which we are probably to understand that it is intended to be set to an accompaniment of stringed instruments (see introductory paragraph to Psalms 4:1.). The further statement, that it is to be "upon Sheminith," is very obscure, but perhaps refers to some form of musical time (see Hengstenberg). The psalm seems to divide into fo

MY SOUL IS ALSO SORE VEXED,.... Or "exceedingly troubled" c, and even frightened and thrown into a consternation with indwelling sin, and on account of actual transgressions, and by reason of the hidings of God's face, and through the temptations of Satan, and because of the fear of death; to which Old Testament saints were very incident. BUT THOU, O LORD, HOW LONG? it is an abrupt expression, the whole he designed is not spoken, being hindered through the grief and sorrow with which his heart was overwhelmed; and is to be supplied after this manner, "shall I have refreshment?'' as the Chaldee paraphrase; or, "wilt thou look and not heal me?'' as Jarchi; or "my soul be troubled?'' as Aben Ezra; or "shall I be afflicted, and thou wilt not heal me?'' as Kimchi; or "wilt thou afflict me, and not arise to my help?'' see...

Here the psalmist asks for a visit from God, for he is sick at heart, heavy and depressed. Be very thankful if that is not your case; but if it is, be very grateful that here is a prayer ready-made for you. Here you are taught how to cry to God, and what to expect from him. If you are very sick and sad, you are not worse off than David was. Send for David's Physician; you cannot have a better doctor than the royal Physician. He who waited on King David is prepared to wait on you. Psalms 6:1. _O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,_ «Rebuke me; it will do me good; I need it; but not in anger. Be gentle and tender with me: ‘Rebuke me not in thine anger.'» Psalms 6:1. _Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure._ «Chasten me; it may be that the rod will be very curative

Psalms 6 _ 1. The cry of repentance (Psalms 6:1)_ 2. In deep distress (Psalms 6:4) 3. Jehovah has heard (Psalms 6:8) Psalms 6:1. Here we have the deep soul exercise of the godly expressed. In the midst of the trials and sorrows they search their hearts. The persecution of the enemies is used under God to bring His people in the dust. And so they feel the trial and sorrow which passeth over them as divine displeasure against sin. They feel it is the chastening hand of God which rests heavily upon them. Perhaps bodily sickness is also indicated. They cry, Jeh

VI. A RIGHTEOUS MAN'S PRAYER IN DISTRESS. (_a_) Notice (Psalms 6:1) the recognition of the fact that suffering is not always the proof of guilt and of God's wrath. Sometimes it is sent to prove, correct, and purify the righteous. So here 1, Psalms 66:8; Job 6:17, and especially Proverbs 3:11 f.* (_b_) Reward or penalty, if they come at all, must, according to the general teaching of the Psalter, come in this life; the life beyond the grave is scarcely worthy of the name. The dead are gathered together in the subterranean pit of Sheol. They are cut off from the light of the world, and above all, from the light of God's presence and fro