O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
It is David's prayer in his sickness, opening his complaint by asking God to hear him and to correct and discipline him, but not in anger or burning displeasure. It asks for rebuke and chastening given in love rather than punishment driven by fierce wrath, because the speaker is weak, sorrowful and humble under personal fault and distress. It belongs to the seven penitential psalms, yet it is not David's song alone but an inspired song given to God's children to teach them to commune with God and pour out the soul to Him. The troubled soul can turn to its words at all times for comfort and peace to calm distress and heal a wounded conscience.
Background, Setting, and Meaning
The opening cry of the sixth psalm was probably composed by David, yet it is not his song alone but an inspired song given to God's children. It stands with Psalms 1 to 17, part of the great treasure-house of the Psalms and part of the first of the five books into which the Hebrews divided the Psalms. That first book was given to emphasize God's great Fatherhood and to impress the great spiritual truths revealed in the first five books of Moses and in Job. The sixth psalm belongs to the seven penitential psalms, a group marked by penitence.
It is David's prayer and complaint in his sickness, forming the opening of that complaint and asking God to hear him. It is a plea for God to rebuke, correct, discipline, and chasten the speaker, but not in anger, fierce anger, or hot displeasure. Rebuke and chastening given in God's love are thus set apart from punishment driven by fierce anger and hot displeasure.
The prayer asks God to lead gently in the narrow way and expresses godly fear of God. The appeal is made because the speaker is weak, suffering, sorrowful, and humble amid personal faults and distress. It gives words to the sorrow and fear felt over personal lukewarmness and unfaithfulness, and pleads for God to forgive the rebellious sinner and not reject or chastise him in anger.
Prayer, Comfort, and Misuse
Though likely composed by David, this psalm is not his alone but an inspired song given to God's children for singing and study at all times. It stands among Psalms 1 to 17, within the great treasure-house of the Psalms and within the first of the five books into which the Hebrews divided the Psalms. That first book was given to emphasize God's great Fatherhood and to impress the spiritual truths revealed in the first five books of Moses and in Job. The songs of this book serve as prayers and praise, teaching people to commune with God and to pour out the soul to Him.
The troubled soul may turn to this word for comfort and peace. Its language is precious because it calms distress. It brings peace to a wounded conscience.
In the Marian version the opening appeal is altered to address the Virgin Mary, asking her to prevent the speaker from being handed over to God's fury. That change substitutes Mary for God in the plea for mercy amid divine anger.
It is David's prayer in his sickness, opening his complaint by asking God to hear him and to correct and discipline him, but not in anger or burning displeasure. It asks for rebuke and chastening given in love rather than punishment driven by fierce wrath, because the speaker is weak, sorrowful and humble under personal fault and distress. It belongs to the seven penitential psalms, yet it is not David's song alone but an inspired song given to God's children to teach them to commune with God and pour out the soul to Him. The troubled soul can turn to its words at all times for comfort and peace to calm distress and heal a wounded conscience.
Background, Setting, and Meaning
The opening cry of the sixth psalm was probably composed by David, yet it is not his song alone but an inspired song given to God's children. It stands with Psalms 1 to 17, part of the great treasure-house of the Psalms and part of the first of the five books into which the Hebrews divided the Psalms. That first book was given to emphasize God's great Fatherhood and to impress the great spiritual truths revealed in the first five books of Moses and in Job. The sixth psalm belongs to the seven penitential psalms, a group marked by penitence.
It is David's prayer and complaint in his sickness, forming the opening of that complaint and asking God to hear him. It is a plea for God to rebuke, correct, discipline, and chasten the speaker, but not in anger, fierce anger, or hot displeasure. Rebuke and chastening given in God's love are thus set apart from punishment driven by fierce anger and hot displeasure.
The prayer asks God to lead gently in the narrow way and expresses godly fear of God. The appeal is made because the speaker is weak, suffering, sorrowful, and humble amid personal faults and distress. It gives words to the sorrow and fear felt over personal lukewarmness and unfaithfulness, and pleads for God to forgive the rebellious sinner and not reject or chastise him in anger.
Prayer, Comfort, and Misuse
Though likely composed by David, this psalm is not his alone but an inspired song given to God's children for singing and study at all times. It stands among Psalms 1 to 17, within the great treasure-house of the Psalms and within the first of the five books into which the Hebrews divided the Psalms. That first book was given to emphasize God's great Fatherhood and to impress the spiritual truths revealed in the first five books of Moses and in Job. The songs of this book serve as prayers and praise, teaching people to commune with God and to pour out the soul to Him.
The troubled soul may turn to this word for comfort and peace. Its language is precious because it calms distress. It brings peace to a wounded conscience.
In the Marian version the opening appeal is altered to address the Virgin Mary, asking her to prevent the speaker from being handed over to God's fury. That change substitutes Mary for God in the plea for mercy amid divine anger.