Psalm 6
David's model for Repentance
Summary
v1-5 David's plea for mercy
v6-7 David expresses sorrow for his sin
v8-10 Result of true repentance
David's plea for mercy
Just reading through Psalm 6, it is obvious that David has in some way offended God and is suffering both physically and spiritually. Here in verse 1-2a, he pleads desperately for mercy, fearing God's rebuke, discipline, anger and wrath.
Do we fear God's wrath in the same way that David did? What is God's wrath?
We often simplify God's wrath to be something simple like "we go to hell". Or "God will be unhappy with us". We downplay the righteousness and power of the Almighty God. We fall into traps such as "whatever happens, Jesus' death is the perfect atonement, so nevermind".
We fail to give God the due reverence by not fearing his wrath.
Following which, David gives reasons for asking for healing from God
In verse 2b-3, because his bones are in agony, and his soul is in anguish
In verse 4, because of God's unfailing love
And in verse 5, because the dead cannot praise God.
It seems as if David is telling God "You must save me because blah blah blah".
But the right way to put it is David having confidence in God to save him because of God's unfailing love. Because God designed us to worship Him, and we cannot worship Him while we are dead.
David expresses sorrow for his sin
David describes his sorrow as
"all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears"
We spend most of our time at home... on the couch or on the bed! (amazing discovery. We're such lazy people) And David is sadly soaking his stuff up with tears. But beyond the cynical view of it, this should be the very same response that we hold ourselves when caught up in sin. Sin must be viewed as something which is as disgusting in our lives as it is to God.
He also says that his eyes grow weak with sorrow, that his eyes fail because of all his foes. It hints to David being led astray by his foes (read Psalm 5). I may be wrong and he might actually mean an army, but there's no context here so I'd assume based on verse 8 that he means the same foes from Psalm 5.
Result of true repentance
David rejects sinners and people who lead him astray, driving them away from him.
God enacts His judgement, protecting David and disgracing his enemies.
What this means for us
David models true repentance for us in Psalm 6
True Repentance is given as
Plea for mercy + Expression of sorrow --> Resulting in God's grace and our rejection of sin.
Plea for mercy
We have to first understand God is our Creator, the rightful ruler of our lives. It is His right to judge us and pronounce his wrath upon us for the sin we commit.
Expression of sorrow
We need to understand that we sin before God, and how disgusting it is, so we can turn away from it. We must have the attitude to hate sin.
God's grace
This encompasses forgiveness by God and His acting to remove sin in our lives. It is the Divine Sovereignty part of repentance. We have no say whatsoever in this, but it is granted freely to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ
Reject sin
This is to actively live in a way that rejects sin in our lives, making decisions to obey God. This is the Human Responsibility in repentance, of which God has given us free will to choose. He can intervene, but He won't.
Questions
Have you already made this choice to reject sin and accept God's free gift of forgiveness?
What are some of the decisions we can make to remove sin in our lives, and the actions that need to be taken?
For me:
To consider Christ first in all I do. I was reading Philippians before I embarked on this project here and Philippians 3:7 stands out - Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
I hope to achieve a mindset where I can consider God's plan ahead of mine.
Short reflection from yesterday:
I missed my morning devotion :( woke up 45mins late. Shall try again tomorrow...
David's model for Repentance
Summary
v1-5 David's plea for mercy
v6-7 David expresses sorrow for his sin
v8-10 Result of true repentance
David's plea for mercy
Just reading through Psalm 6, it is obvious that David has in some way offended God and is suffering both physically and spiritually. Here in verse 1-2a, he pleads desperately for mercy, fearing God's rebuke, discipline, anger and wrath.
Do we fear God's wrath in the same way that David did? What is God's wrath?
We often simplify God's wrath to be something simple like "we go to hell". Or "God will be unhappy with us". We downplay the righteousness and power of the Almighty God. We fall into traps such as "whatever happens, Jesus' death is the perfect atonement, so nevermind".
We fail to give God the due reverence by not fearing his wrath.
Following which, David gives reasons for asking for healing from God
In verse 2b-3, because his bones are in agony, and his soul is in anguish
In verse 4, because of God's unfailing love
And in verse 5, because the dead cannot praise God.
It seems as if David is telling God "You must save me because blah blah blah".
But the right way to put it is David having confidence in God to save him because of God's unfailing love. Because God designed us to worship Him, and we cannot worship Him while we are dead.
David expresses sorrow for his sin
David describes his sorrow as
"all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears"
We spend most of our time at home... on the couch or on the bed! (amazing discovery. We're such lazy people) And David is sadly soaking his stuff up with tears. But beyond the cynical view of it, this should be the very same response that we hold ourselves when caught up in sin. Sin must be viewed as something which is as disgusting in our lives as it is to God.
He also says that his eyes grow weak with sorrow, that his eyes fail because of all his foes. It hints to David being led astray by his foes (read Psalm 5). I may be wrong and he might actually mean an army, but there's no context here so I'd assume based on verse 8 that he means the same foes from Psalm 5.
Result of true repentance
David rejects sinners and people who lead him astray, driving them away from him.
God enacts His judgement, protecting David and disgracing his enemies.
What this means for us
David models true repentance for us in Psalm 6
True Repentance is given as
Plea for mercy + Expression of sorrow --> Resulting in God's grace and our rejection of sin.
Plea for mercy
We have to first understand God is our Creator, the rightful ruler of our lives. It is His right to judge us and pronounce his wrath upon us for the sin we commit.
Expression of sorrow
We need to understand that we sin before God, and how disgusting it is, so we can turn away from it. We must have the attitude to hate sin.
God's grace
This encompasses forgiveness by God and His acting to remove sin in our lives. It is the Divine Sovereignty part of repentance. We have no say whatsoever in this, but it is granted freely to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ
Reject sin
This is to actively live in a way that rejects sin in our lives, making decisions to obey God. This is the Human Responsibility in repentance, of which God has given us free will to choose. He can intervene, but He won't.
Questions
Have you already made this choice to reject sin and accept God's free gift of forgiveness?
What are some of the decisions we can make to remove sin in our lives, and the actions that need to be taken?
For me:
To consider Christ first in all I do. I was reading Philippians before I embarked on this project here and Philippians 3:7 stands out - Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
I hope to achieve a mindset where I can consider God's plan ahead of mine.
Short reflection from yesterday:
I missed my morning devotion :( woke up 45mins late. Shall try again tomorrow...
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