Psalm 6
Sunday, November 16
Rev. Bruce McGee
Lesson Title: A Confident Answer to an Agonized Plea
Author of Psalm 6: David
Written: About 1015 B.C.- David had committed his sin concerning Uriah and Bathsheba. At the
writing of this Psalm, Bathsheba had given birth to a baby. The baby was near death. David was
heartbroken and regretful. He is praying and asking for forgiveness and restoration. Psalm 6 is no
victory shout; it is the mourn and wail of a sinner seeking forgiveness as he pays the price for his sin.
Psalm 6 is known as the first of seven penitential psalms - songs of confession and humility. It was a
custom in the early church to sing these psalms on Ash Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter.
The Jews would use this Psalm when wanting forgiveness. It was used after a time of backsliding
when a vow had been made to God to return to His will and His work. Notice the groanings of verse
3, the need for restoration found in verse 2 and the desire for forgiveness found in verse 4. Picture
David pleading for restoration at the bedside of a dying son whose brief life was soon to be ended.
Then call to God for forgiveness and restoration.
Type: Lament
Main Idea: Unconfessed sin in David’s life was costly, but by acknowledging it to God, he found a
renewed confidence in the Lord.
Inspirational Quote: “A great part of our worthiness lies in acknowledgment of our unworthiness.”
Matthew Henry
A. The agonized plea.
a. (vs.1) A plea to lighten the chastening hand.

There may be times when we believe we are chastened by God's hand when
really we suffer trouble brought upon ourselves. Nevertheless, there are certainly
times when the LORD does discipline His children.
b. (vs. 2-3) Two kinds of trouble.
c. (vs. 4-5) The urgency of David's plea.

The plea, "turn" also shows that David felt distant from God. This was part of the
agony of the trial. When we sense God is near us we feel that we can face
anything, but when we sense Him distant from us we are weak before the
smallest trial.
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B. The determined resolution.
a. (vs. 6-7) A vivid description of David's agony.
b. (vs. 8-10) David's confident declaration.

It is important to separate from ungodly associations. J. Edwin Orr describes
some of the work among new converts in Halifax during the Second Great
Awakening in Britain: "Among them was a boxer who had just won a money-prize
and a belt. A crowd of his companions stood outside the hall in order to ridicule
him, and they hailed the converted boxer with a shout: 'He's getting' converted!
What about that belt? He’ll either have to fight for it or give it up!' The boxer
retorted: 'I'll both give it up and you up! If you won't go with me to heaven, I won't
go with you to hell!' He gave them the belt, but persuaded some of them to
accompany him to the services, where another was converted."

"Is it not sweet to believe that our tears are understood even when words fail! Let
us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers." (Spurgeon)
Conclusion:
Essential to every healthy Christian life is the spiritual discipline of confessing one’s sin to God.
Confession begins with the heart attitude in which a person is sensitive to the convicting ministry of
the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit’s work to point out specific areas of a believer’s life that are entangled in
sin. Then, once convinced, the believer must acknowledge his sin to God, naming the offenses to the
Lord (1 John 1:9).
Sin does not break a Christian’s relationship with God. That is, when a Christian sins, he is still
a Christian. But known sin does break fellowship with God. Scripture indicates that God is displeased
when we do not repent of known sin. He may discipline us to bring us to repentance, just as a loving
parent disciplines his child (Hebrews 12:5-11).
The believer must deal honestly with God, openly confessing the sin, never minimizing or
excusing the offense. A Christian should never go for long periods of time with unconfessed sin in his
life (Ephesians 4:26-27). He should regularly acknowledge his iniquity to God and seek his
forgiveness. A believer must turn from his sin and pursue the path of obedience (Proverbs 28:13).
God delights in forgiving his children for their sin. Just as it is man’s nature to sin, so it is God’s
nature to forgive those who repent. Therefore, the people of God should be confident when they
confess their sin, knowing they will find acceptance and pardon with the Lord and a restoration of
fellowship.
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