Psalms

Psalms 6: The LORD hears His people

Begin in prayer

Before we hear David's tears, let us ask the Lord to help us pray through our own sorrow. Bring Him the needs of body and soul, and ask to see the mercy of Jesus.

“Come, and let us return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.

Hosea 6:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the LORD hears His people when grief brings them to tears. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David brings his troubled body and soul before the LORD, asking for mercy rather than wrath. His question is short and painful, asking how long the distress will continue. Tears drench his bed, and his enemies add to his grief. He asks God to preserve his life so he can still give thanks. Then his voice changes, because he knows the LORD has heard his weeping and accepted his prayer.

As you read Psalms 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD hears His people's weeping and saves them for His loving kindness.

David's prayer gives the congregation words for suffering that reaches body and soul. He fears God's anger and pleads for mercy without claiming that he deserves relief. Loving kindness is the reason he gives for asking God to save him. Sheol names the realm of the dead, and David longs to remain among the living to give thanks. He is asking for life rather than teaching that death ends a person's existence. The bed drenched with tears tells how long and costly his anguish has been. His closing confidence rests on the LORD hearing, before the song describes any visible change. God receives the cry of His people even when tears make their words few.

How does Psalm 6 show us that the LORD hears His people's weeping and saves them for His loving kindness?

David asks the LORD for mercy in his anguish.

His bones are troubled, and his soul is in anguish too. He brings both needs to God and asks how long he must wait. The reason for rescue is God's loving kindness, so his weakness sends him toward mercy.

The LORD hears David's weeping and accepts his prayer.

The prayer's voice changes when David says that the LORD has heard. Tears have reached the God who listens to His people. David can dismiss the workers of iniquity because their threats cannot cancel God's answer. His enemies will be ashamed, dismayed and turned back in sudden disgrace.

Memorise

Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer.

Psalm 6:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sorrow am I afraid to bring to Jesus?

David says, “Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.” The tears were many, and the prayer was received. The Lord's loving kindness gives His suffering people a reason to keep calling.

Jesus also prayed with tears, and Hebrews 5 verse 7 tells us that He was heard. He had no sin to confess. He carried His people's sin to the cross and endured the judgment against it, then rose to life beyond death. His offering was made once for all and is enough to secure their pardon.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. In Him the guilty find forgiveness, and the sorrowing find a Lord who knows their tears. Bring Him the grief you cannot put into tidy words. His mercy does not depend on your ability to speak without weeping.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD hears His people when grief brings them to tears. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He receives the prayer of His weeping people. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.

John 11:41

Merciful God, please hear the burdens we struggle to name. Bring us to trust Jesus, who suffered for sinners and lives to save. We ask Your care for those whose nights are full of tears. Let Your loving kindness steady our prayers and our steps this week. Amen.