We are excited to be starting a new series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.
Read Psalm 6 Listen to Psalm 6
Podcast (cnc-daily-psalms): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:37 — 1.1MB)
If you thought Psalms 4 and 5 were calling out to God- you ain’t seen nothing yet!
In my study Bible Psalm 6 is described as a ‘Prayer for Recovery from Grave illness’ which, as you read through the Psalm you can imagine: the psalmist awake all night- struggling and sweating! The psalmist calls out to God for healing- both it seems of body and of mind. They do not hold back with God- being honest about the sense of desperation they feel.
The middle of Psalm 6, reiterates the psalmist’s confidence in God’s ‘steadfast love’ and answering of prayer. The focus though is on God’s activity, rather than an immediate solution or healing emphasizes the God who hears.
Feeling listened to is important for all human beings- listening to others is an act of love. In moments of desperation knowing that God hears us is important.
The Psalm is clear that God’s response comes out of his love not of the psalmist’s actions. This is encouraging when we worry that things we have done might make it difficult for God to listen to us. God’s hearing us in prayer is an act of grace- God listens because God is God. Let us come to him then honestly and desperately trusting that when we speak he listens.
God thank you that you always hear us when we pray.