Psalm 6 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 6 Short Summary:

In the sixth Psalm, David calls out to the Lord to withdraw His discipline from him. David’s enemies were a continual thorn in his side. David’s soul was greatly troubled, and he cried so much he soaked his bed with tears. In the last 3 verses of the psalm, David expresses his confidence that God will help him and put his enemies to shame.

Psalm 6 Summary

AUTHOR:

• King David of Israel, second king of Israel (6:1). He followed Saul on the throne.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:27

THEMES:

• God’s discipline of His children.

• Crying out to God in moments of distress.

• Confidence that God answers prayers.

DEFINITIONS:

• Sheol – “The idea which was conveyed by the word Sheol, or Hades, was not properly a grave or sepulcher, but that dark, unknown state, including the grave, which constituted the dominions of the dead” (Barnes).

OUTLINE:

• DAVID’S PLEA TO GOD TO WITHDRAW HIS DISCIPLINE (6:1-7):

  • David was in distress, and he suspected it may be the result of God’s discipline for something he did. We aren’t given specifics as to what his sin might have been.

  • From the end of the psalm, we understand that part of David’s distress was due to enemies who were threatening him.

  • He inquired how long his trouble would last.

  • He asked God not to punish him anymore, because he was already “greatly troubled,” but to be gracious to him and help him.

  • He was worried his trouble would lead to his death, and he expressed his desire to stay on earth where he could worship the Lord.

  • “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes” (6:7-8).

• DAVID’S CONFIDENCE THAT GOD HEARD HIS PRAYER (6:8-10):

  • In the last 3 verses, David moves from a mindset of despair to one of confidence.

  • He calls on his enemies to withdraw from him because he knows the Lord will answer his prayer.

  • He states that all his enemies will be put to shame and defeated by God.
    

APPLICATION:

• As David did, maybe it would be wise for us to occasionally end our prayers with an expression of confidence that our pleas are heard by God.

• We don’t pray into the ether and just hope God hears. We should be confident that God hears us.

• Proverbs 15:29 - The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 

• These expressions of confidence are both a praise to God for hearing us and a reminder to ourselves of His promises to hear us.