Psalms 6:1

Psalm 6:1 . O Lord, rebuke me not — That is, do not chasten or correct me, as the next clause explains it; in thine anger — With rigour or severity, as my sins deserve, but with gentleness and moderation, Jeremiah 10:24 ; or, in such a manner that the chastisement may not be the effect of thy strict justice, or anger, but of thy mercy and faithfulness.

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Having read through the first division, in order to see it as a whole, we will now look at it verse by verse. "O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger." The Psalmist is very conscious that he deserves to be rebuked, and he feels, moreover, that the rebuke in some form or other must come upon him, if not for condemnation, yet for conviction and sanctification. "Corn is cleaned with wind, and the soul with chastenings." It were folly to pray against the golden hand which enriches us by its blows. He does not ask that the rebuke may be totally withheld, for he might thus lose a blessing in disguise; but, "Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger." If thou remindest me of my sin, it is good; but, oh, remind me not of it as one incensed against me, lest thy servant's heart should sink in despair.

Thus saith Jeremiah, "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing." I know that I must be chastened, and though I shrink from thy rod yet do I feel that it will be for my benefit; but, oh, my God, "chasten me not in thy hot displeasure," lest the rod become a sword, and lest in smiting, thou shouldest also kill. So may we pray that the chastisements of our gracious God, if they may not be entirely removed, may at least be sweetened by the consciousness that they are "not in anger, but in his dear covenant love." Psalm 6:2, Psalm 6:3 "Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak." Though I deserve destruction, yet let thy mercy pity my frailty. This is the right way to plead with God if we would prevail. Urge not your goodness or your greatness, but plead your sin and your littleness. Cry, "I am weak," therefore O Lord, give me strength and crush me not. Send not forth the fury of thy tempest against so weak a vessel. Temper the wind to the shorn lamb. Be tender and pitiful to a poor withering flower, and break it not from its stem.

(1) O Lord, rebuke me not. —Repeated with change of one word in Psalm 38:1 . The sublime thought that pain and sorrow are a discipline of love might be found in these words (as in Psalm 94:12 ; Proverbs 3:11-12 ; Jeremiah 10:24 ; Hebrews 12:3 ; Hebrews 12:11 ; Revelation 3:19 ), did not the context show that the sufferer in this case is praying for the chastisement to be altogether removed.

Verse 1. - O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger . The psalmist begins by deprecating God's wrath and displeasure. He is conscious of some grievous sin, deserving rebuke and chastisement, and he does not ask to be spared his chastisement; but he would fain be chastised in love, not in anger (comp. Jeremiah 10:24 , "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing "). Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure ; or, in thy wrath. In its primary sense, humah ( חמה ) is no doubt "heat," "glow; ' but the secondary sense of "anger," "wrath," is quite as common. Psalm 6:1

PSALM 6 Ps 6:1-10. On Neginoth (See on [571]Ps 4:1, title) upon Sheminith—the eighth—an instrument for the eighth key; or, more probably, the bass, as it is contrasted with Alamoth (the treble, Ps 46:1) in 1Ch 15:20, 21. In deep affliction the Psalmist appeals to God's mercy for relief from chastisement, which otherwise must destroy him, and thus disable him for God's service. Sure of a gracious answer, he triumphantly rebukes his foes. 1. He owns his ill desert in begging a relief from chastisement.

1 . The emphasis in the original lies on the words not in Thine anger, neither in Thy hot displeasure . The Psalmist pleads that his present suffering exceeds the measure of loving correction ( Job 5:17 ; Proverbs 3:11-12 ; Jeremiah 10:24 ; Revelation 3:19 ). He can only interpret it as a sign that the wrath of God is resting upon him. Perhaps, like Job, he can detect no special sin to account for it. At least it is noteworthy that the Psalm contains no explicit confession of sin, and in this respect it is a remarkable contrast to the kindred Psalms 38, which opens with the same words. 1–3 . The Psalmist pleads for mercy, deprecating the severity of God’s visitation.