Everyone needs the mercy of God. The Christian must be reminded each day of this facet of the Godhead. God is merciful, and as the Bible states, God’s mercies are new for the Christian every morning. In other words, God’s mercies are abundant and without end. His mercies are infinite and cannot be exhausted. Even Paul found courage in the fact that the ministry he had was dependent upon the mercy of God: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not” (2 Cor. 4:1). The mercy of God is not some abstract concept that does little good in the day-to-day life of the Christian. The mercy of God is not some distant reality that bears no earthly significance as one trods the paths of life. Paul makes it clear that it was the mercy of God that gave him strength to continue. He did not grow weary because God’s mercy was upon him.
Paul knew that he did not deserve to be in the position he was in. He calls himself wretched in the Scriptures, he declares that he is the chief of sinners, and elsewhere he exclaims that he is the least of the apostles. Now, it is important to make it clear that Paul was not an unrepentant sinner, but nevertheless, he did in fact recognize his own flaws. He needed the mercy of God like everyone else. If Paul did not have a good grasp on God’s being merciful, he would have crumbled under the weight of what God had called him to.
It has been said before that even Aaron the Great High Priest had to offer a sacrifice for himself before he offered a sacrifice for the people. Aaron was in ministry, and what a wonderful avenue that is for the enemy to discourage the saints of God. Sometimes it can be very hard to see why God has called a flawed Christian into ministry. The enemy can use this as fertile ground for tempting the ministering saint to discouragement and despair.
In Psalm 6:1-3, David, the man after God’s own heart, pled for the mercy of God. He, just like the rest of humanity, needed once again to be reminded of this marvelous attribute of God.
Please do not rebuke me
David knew that God does, in fact, get angry. But David also knew that God does, in fact, withhold His anger. Scripture says, “O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger” (Ps. 6:1). David here recognizes that he has sinned against the Lord. He recognizes that this places him in a position of deserving the anger of God in his life. However, David also knows that God hears prayer and loves to answer the prayers of His saints.
When David cries out that God would not rebuke him, David uses the word “yakach.” This word carries the weight of reproof, correction, or convicting. David pleaded that this would not be done in the anger of God. David knew that he could pray and turn to the Lord in his sin.
In Psalm 51, we see another psalm that contains David’s pleas for mercy. In this psalm, he begins his cries after he has sinned against God by appealing to the mercy of God. David was not a stranger to sin. But David was also not a stranger to God’s mercy.
Please do not discipline me
As Psalm 6 continues, we read, “…neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure” (Ps. 6:1). David uses a form of Hebrew poetry here where the second statement or line builds off of the first. (This is extremely common in the book of Proverbs.) It is as though David is saying the same thing in this portion of Scripture as what he just previously stated.
David’s use of this form of poetry adds emphasis and attention to what is being said while also bringing a sense of clarity. The word “chasten” that David uses is “yacar.” This word also carries the meaning of reproof and correction.
David used the word anger at the beginning of this verse, but he now changes his word choice to “wrath” or “hot displeasure.” That which does not please God also angers God. God is not indifferent toward anything in His creation. He cares about every facet of His creation with His entire being.
However, to say that God is angry or is displeased comes with some worldly baggage. When people are angry at someone, it usually comes fully equipped with hatred or vengeance in mind. It also has a tendency to be coupled with disdain and a desire for someone to fall. The anger of man usually is sinful. This sinful anger is uncontrolled and selfish.
God’s anger is not like that. When God gets angry, it is always a controlled anger. God’s anger is different and must be recognized as such.
Please do be merciful to me
David quickly moves to an appeal to God’s mercy. Scripture says, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak…” (Ps. 6:2). David here recognizes his weaknesses before God. He recognizes his humanity and his need for God’s forgiveness. He cries out for mercy because of his weaknesses and pleads that God would forgive.
Grace and mercy are two closely associated concepts that may be misunderstood at times. In grace, God gives the sinner what he does not deserve. In mercy, God does not give the sinner what he does deserve. David realizes that he deserves some form of wrath, but he pleads that God would be merciful.
Please do heal me
David knows that it is more than mercy that he needs. David does not just want to be forgiven or to be spared. He wants to be healed. He does not like the condition that he is in, and he knows that God can help him to be a better man. Scripture says, “O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed” (Ps. 6:2). In this passage, David notes that he is feeling the effects of his sin.
His sin was crippling him. His sin was weighing him down. He was experiencing physical consequences because of his actions. David prays that God would bring healing to his sin-stricken body.
Please do come to me
Finally, David says, “My soul is also vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? (Ps. 6:3). He longed for God to come and be with him once again. His sin had created a separation between him and his God. He wanted the presence of God once more in his life. He wondered when that would be restored to him. He says, “How long?” It is on this point that we must turn quickly to another passage of Scripture that can help the believer in understanding the mercy of God.
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet records the most detailed prophetic references to the sufferings of Christ. David was a man who was sorrowful because of His sin. He was in anguish and was languishing before God because of what he had done. He could not bear the weight of the decisions that he had made, and he wanted sweet communion with his Father to be restored. “How long?” he cried.
Scripture tells us of a time when the weight of sin and accompanied sorrows would be taken off the shoulders of man and placed onto the shoulders of Christ. The Bible says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Is. 53:3). The mercy of God flows through the cross.
Application
David knew that he could turn to God during times of failure in his life. He knew that he would be met with mercy when he did. God sits upon a seat of mercy. You, too, can approach His throne. Turn to God today and look to Jesus. He has truly born what you could never bear on your own.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Christ today. I thank You for the mercy that You offer to me. I thank You that I can approach You. Help me to continue to turn to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.