The Power of Confession: Help for the Spiritually Depressed (Psalm 6)

Read Psalm 6:

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

¹ O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. ² Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. ³ My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD–how long? ⁴ Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. ⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? ⁶ I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. ⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. ⁹ The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. ¹⁰ All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Understand Psalm 6

I. Unconfessed sin brings troubles in life (vv. 1-7)

Loss of divine pleasure (v. 1) – David fears the holy wrath of God because unconfessed sin always separates us from our Creator. David trusts in God’s divine pleasure to rescue his wayward children.
Loss of physical strength (v. 2) – As embodied souls, unconfessed sin can sap our physical strength. David’s experience of physical suffering leads him to pray for spiritual renewal.
Loss of emotional peace (v. 3) – In his despair, David turns to the Lord, “But you, O LORD.” He doesn’t know how salvation will come, but he does know who must save him.
Loss of spiritual intimacy (v. 4) – The very God who administers punishment to the wicked also promises to restore the repentant. God’s discipline and deliverance both display his steadfast love.
Loss of life (v. 5) – David acknowledges that the wages of sin is death—sometimes immediate physical death (e.g., Achan, Uzzah). David prays for his life to be spared, so that he will have breath to praise the Lord.
Loss of sleep (vv. 6-7) – David figuratively floats on a bed of tears. His weeping is a right response to spiritual despair, but joy will come in the morning light.

B. Confessing Sin Brings Relief from Life’s Troubles (vv. 8-10)

Protection from man (v. 8) – The supernatural change in David transforms him from a man of sorrow to one who rebukes his enemies. He has been radically transformed through answered prayer: “The LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.”
Peace with God (vv. 9-10) – Once again, David grounds his confidence in the God who answers prayer: Since “the LORD has heard my plea,” he surely “accepts my prayer.” The use of terms from David’s initial prayer promises the reversal of his future circumstances.

Of David	Of David’s Enemies
David’s body and soul are both “greatly troubled” (vv. 2-3)	David’s enemies shall be ashamed and “greatly troubled” (v. 10)
David prays for the Lord to “turn” back his face to him (v. 4)	David’s enemies shall “turn back” and be put to shame (v. 10)

The gospel declares that we are all sinners by nature and sinners by choice, separated from God and dealing with sin’s consequences (Prov 13:15b). So we confess our sins and believe in Christ who paid death’s penalty on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21). We trust in our Lord Jesus who was sapped of physical strength as he hung upon the cross (John 19:28-30). He was bereft of emotional peace when he passionately pled with his Father in Gethsemane to take away that bitter cup (Matt 26:36-42). He experienced loss of spiritual intimacy as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (27:46). He endured the pain of death and uncontrollable weeping (Heb 4:15-16). Jesus bore the problem of our sin upon himself, thereby empowering us to find protection from man and peace with God. These are gospel truths by which we live.

Apply Psalm 6:

Read Psalm 6 three times aloud and let it express your heart’s desire in prayer:[1]

Voice your lament – Tell God how you feel or don’t feel right now. Write it out. Paraphrase David’s words (vv. 1-3, 6-7) to make them your own.
Express your trust in God – Modify David’s words (v. 10) to express your confident hope in what God will do. Write down your prayer to the Lord, coming to him on the basis of Christ’s shed blood.
Cry for deliverance – Lay out your bold petitions before your God. State any motivation God has given that he will answer. Let David’s prayer (vv. 4-5) shape your petition.
Vow to praise again – Give thanks to God for what he will do. Consider how he will use this trial in your life for your good and for his glory. Use David’s prayer (vv. 8b-9) as your foundation.

Pray Psalm 6:

Have mercy on me, O God, for I am weak (vv. 1-3).
Stay true to your steadfast love (v. 4) and grant me the strength to praise you (v. 5).
Lord, hear my prayer and behold my tears (vv. 6-9).
Father, protect me and shame those who are my enemies (v. 10).

Counsel Psalm 6:

Some depression may need physical care, but all depression needs spiritual care. Psalm 6 describes both the problem and the deliverance for believers struggling with spiritual depression.

Projects for Growth:

Describe to the Lord how you are troubled and in need of deliverance (vv. 1-7).
Write down all the ways God ministers to David in his suffering and let it turn your heart to praise (vv. 8-10). How has your despair turned you closer to the Lord?
Seek medical help to discern any physical elements of your depression. Maintain healthy habits of diet, sleep, outdoor exercise, relationships, and medication.
For further study, pick up Robert B. Somerville, If I’m a Christian, Why Am I Depressed? (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2014).

[1] Adapted from Robert B. Somerville, If I’m a Christian, Why Am I Depressed? (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2014), 222-24.