Sermon Title: What Keeps You Up At Night?
Text: Psalm 6:1-10
Speaker: Ed Grable
Date: 5.2.2021
You can watch the sermon here.
You can find the sermon notes here.
Good morning I’m so excited to be with you today! As we begin, I want to welcome all those of you watching online and those joining us from my favorite place to worship our North Main campus. See you all next week.
We’re jumping back into the book of Psalms after a quick break. This is a series where a few staff and elders are being trained and equipped to preach the Word. The last time we were in the Psalms we heard from my friend and teammate Scott Miller from Psalm five where he gave a great visual of the maze of life and challenged us to examine our lives to ensure we were on the right path. God's path. Next week we will hear from Cody as he continues the series with Psalm 7 where he will talk about how we can find refuge in the Lord - so don’t miss next week! It’s going to be great!
This week we’re going to be looking at Psalm 6. So if you have your Bible, and I hope you do, you can turn there now. As you’re finding our verses for today, I want to ask you a question that was posed to you by Pastor John when he preached a few months ago. The question was and is: “What keeps you up at night?” Is it worry or fear about what may or may not happen tomorrow -or- are you someone who is struggling to rest due to pain, be it physical or psychological? In our text, we will see David the writer of our chapter struggling to sleep for many of these same reasons.
Now let us look at Psalm 6 together starting in verse 1 we read.
1 O LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. 2 Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. 3 I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until you restore me? 4 Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. 5 For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. 7 My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. 8 Go away, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer. 10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame. (Psalm 6:1-10) NLT
So this is what they call a Penitential Psalm and this is the first of seven of these types of psalms. These psalms were songs of confession and humility before God. The most referenced being Psalm 51 where David is repentant of his sin with Bathsheba after being convicted by the prophet Nathen of his sin. These psalms were sung by the early church on ash Wednesday forty days before resurrection Sunday.
The first thing we notice in our psalm for today is David knows he has sinned and he’s asking God to not discipline or rebuke him in anger. Let’s look at verse one again.
1 O LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage.
Now we don’t know what sin David is struggling with during this time but we can see he’s fearful of God’s anger and rage. He knows he deserves the discipline and rebuke that he’s going to receive from God; he just doesn’t want to feel the full weight of God’s hand. You see David has seen and heard of the results of God releasing his full wrath on those who have sinned. David knows he deserves whatever he receives but like any of us he’s fearful of what the end result could be.
The best way that I can describe it is: have you ever been disciplined by a parent who was at the height of their anger after finding out that you had broken curfew, got caught smoking, or maybe you put a big gash in the dining room table with a hotdog poker after attempting to poke your brother with it and failed?
Someone who disciplines in a time of anger is going to in most cases dole out the most drastic punishment they can think of. Like, ground you for a month for being 5 minutes late, make you smoke the entire package of cigarettes in one sitting, or take your allowance until you’re 30 to buy a new table.
David did not have the promise of Jesus as we do. He at times could have questioned his place before the almighty God. Back when he was writing this, he wasn’t sure if God would just finally be done with David and take him out. He was well aware of God’s reputation of striking people down who had sinned against him. He had a healthy fear of God.
He didn’t feel entitled because he was the king or that he was a soldier and had led men in battle in God’s name or that he killed a giant in defense of God and his people. We will see this thinking is reinforced later in this psalm.
As we continue reading, we see the effects on David as a result of God’s discipline. He is affected both physically and mentally. We also see him continue to ask for mercy and leniency from God.
Look with me at verses two and three. We read:
2 Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. 3 I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until you restore me?
So he gives his reasons for wanting compassion. Actually, he gives two.
First, he states my bones are in agony. Some other translations say things like troubled or shaken. You get the sense that he is in the throes of a great illness or bone-jarring injury. He’s experiencing great pain and weakness throughout his entire body. It is all-consuming.
I have been witness to this kind of illness in the medical field. I have witnessed patients that were shaking uncontrollably from a fever or shock where their entire body shook and their teeth would chatter. They would cry out in pain begging for comfort and relief and in some cases, they would bargain with God as David is doing.
So David is asking for healing from an illness or injury under the weight of his sin - his bones shake, his flesh quivers. One source I found said that His bones shook in terror. He goes on to say that when the soul has a sense of sin it is enough to make the bones shake and make a man's hair stand up on end because he sees the flames of hell below and an angry god above him and danger and doubt surrounding him.
Secondly, we see he also is struggling with a sick heart or soul. The sorrow that is felt here by David goes so deep as the full weight of his sin is realized. This is the idea that his heart has been ripped from his chest. God has been David’s constant companion. From the grassy hills where he watched over his sheep as they grazed to the long nights he sat looking at the stars listening and watching for the predators that desired to cause harm to the flock.
It is in this regret we see him cry out: how long! How long must I endure this trial, this discomfort, and penalty for my sin? Remember God and David have had a strong connection for many years. David knew what it was like to have God with him and by his side. He wants that feeling back. These nights of seaming separation from God must have seemed like an eternity to him. The pain and anguish David is experiencing is unbearable to him.
Stop for a moment and think about someone you love deeply that you find it hard not to talk to or be apart from for even a day. Now how would you feel if they just stopped all communication and refused your attempts to reconnect?
When I served in the Persian Gulf War, I was newly married. I was half a world away from my new bride and we would not talk for months except a letter or two. This was long before cell phones and emails. My heart ached to be in her presence again. The love of that relationship was good for my soul and without it, I was sad and felt all alone.
David knows God is the only one who can cure his heartache and rescue him from this long sleepless night.
We see this to be true in our next few verses where we read.
4 Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. 5 For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave
David just wants that connection with God back! Between the physical Illness, the aching heart or soul, and the inability to sleep, he believed death was evident. But we see he also believed that God could still keep him from the grave. The statement we see that confirms this is “Save me Because of your unfailing love.” David knew that even though God was angry and had all right to let him die, he also knew God loved him and it would be God’s unfailing love that could rescue and save him.
These verses also confirm he thought he was truly going to die. Now keep in mind that in the Old Testament view of the afterlife as one pastor has said is “shadowy understanding.” Some believed that there was nothing but darkness and an empty void where the dead reside. But there were others who believed that they would stand in the presence of God.
Look with me if you will in Job 19:25-27
Job 19:25-27 NLT
25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body, I will see God! 27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!
So Job, in spite of all he had suffered, had a glorious view of the afterlife, which is much different from what we are seeing here in Psalm 6. As Christ-followers, we can look to death in much the same way as Job because of what Jesus accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection.
Listen to Paul's words on the subject of death.
2 Timothy 1:10 NIV
10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Continuing in psalms we get a vivid picture of what David’s sleepless nights look like. Look with me at verses six and seven. David writes.
6 I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. 7 My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
Do you know one of the biggest things people desire today is a good night’s sleep? From specialty mattresses where you have your own number to the fourth thousand seven hundred different varieties of pillows for each sleep position. There are also natural and prescription drugs that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Something I have just recently learned about is now you can track how well you slept with an app and your apple watch or Fitbit. I don’t know about you but I can tell how well I slept just by how tired or rested I feel when I wake up.
For David, there is no amount of melatonin or the use of a purple mattress that is going to help him. He is crying for two reasons. First, he is crying out of desperation for God to return to him as we have already looked at and secondly he is crying out of depression. As he reviews the choices that have brought him to this point, he is filled with a deep disappointment and sadness. Once again we see the full weight of his sin is realized.
He is literally groaning to the point his throat is sore and cried to the point he says his bed is swimming. Just to be clear his bed was not floating like your favorite floaty that you use in the pool. This is what they call poetic exaggeration. He just wants us to know he has cried a lot.
Can you imagine crying that much?
Now I know there are some of you that are listening to this and you think David should just stop crying, right? Like what is his deal? Let me remind you of what kind of man David was. We all are familiar with him killing the giant as a boy, but did you know he killed a bear and a lion before that? He was a mighty warrior that led men into battle and fought hand-to-hand combat looking a man in his eyes as he struck him down. Let alone the king of God's people. Just to give you a picture of who he was.
During my research, I was reminded of a story in the Bible during the time Jesus walked the earth where a woman cried so much she was able to wash Jesus' feet. It's found in the book of Luke where we read.
Luke 7:37–38 ESV
37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
This woman was crying so much she was able to wash the feet of Jesus. Years ago I heard a pastor say that this woman’s tears were tears of joy because she was so thankful to Jesus because he saved her and showed her love when no one else did. How about you? When you think of all Jesus has done for you and how he has and continues to love you, what will be your response when you see him face to face?
Continuing we see the result and another reason for all of this crying. His eyes are sore and his vision is blurred because of all his enemies.
When it comes to David and repentance, there is no clear sign of repentance but there is also no sign of him not repenting. But if we look at the events of this night and the end result in the next verses, we can speculate with confidence that David has repented and was restored.
Let’s look at the last few verses together. David writes,
8 Go away, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer. 10 May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame. (Psalm 6:8-10)
Suddenly we see a change in David’s resolve. It’s as if someone encouraged him to get up like a coach in the corner of a boxer who was about tobe counted out of a fight. Get Up! You can do this! Don’t let this beat you!
He dismisses his enemies with confidence. The enemies here are believed to be the ungodly and the reason for David’s sin and subsequent chastisement from God. We then see where that confidence comes from.
David says the Lord three times. This reveals that in some way David once again feels God has heard him and he will be restored.
The Lord has heard my weeping-As another pastor is popular for saying tears are still words to God in any language. Later in Psalm 56, David says God bottles our tears
The Lord has heard my plea -He cried out to be saved and rescued and God in his mercy kept him from the grave.
The Lord will answer my prayer - David shows that God will answer his prayer and he puts his enemies on notice. He prays that they would be disgraced and terrified to the point that they would turn back in shame as David did. His thinking was if they experience what David did maybe they would turn from their sin and repent putting their faith in God.
Many years ago I was serving onboard a ship with the Navy doing exercises off the coast of San Diego California. I worked for the Chaplain, Executive Officer, and the Captain. I started to become nauseous about halfway through a four-hour watch. Upon completing my watch I went to sickbay to see the doctor. He gave me some Pepto and sent me to bed. The pain and discomfort got so bad I couldn’t sleep. I went back to the doc once I spiked a fever and couldn’t keep anything down. I spent all day trying to find comfort and most of all sleep. Finally, the chaplain and XO stopped by to see me and I told them I felt I was going to die. At that, the flight quarters alarm rang and I was flown into the naval hospital. Three surgeons within five minutes all confirmed it was a ruptured appendix. I was rushed to emergency surgery and spent hours under the knife. I later found out I was close to death when I arrived and I was lucky to be alive.
So why did I tell you that story? Well, you see I was much like David hanging out with the ungodly and not living the life I had been called to as a Christ-follower. During my time fighting the illness, I talked with God and asked him to save me. Deep down I felt this was God’s way of getting my attention. In the hospital, I woke up with a new purpose and a reminder that we are not promised tomorrow. I often think back on those two agonizing days at sea as the time God got my attention and started a work in my life.
So what about you? What keeps you up at night?
Is it sin? Do you feel you have done too much that there is no way he can forgive you? Or have you been sinned against?
Let me tell you Jesus loves you and all you need to do is ask for forgiveness and it is yours. John tells us this in 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9 NIV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
Are you battling depression, or are you struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups? I challenge you to talk to someone. The one thing we learned in 2020 was there are a lot of people battling depression, anxiety, and addictions. Don’t try to do it on your own. Talk to someone this week!
Jesus says come to me all of you who are brokenhearted.
Look at the words we see in Psalms 147:3
Psalm 147:3 NLT
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
David knew this. It is this very understanding and trust in God that got him thorough in those times where he wanted to just give up and die. Don’t quit, keep calling out to God. I don’t know what you are facing but I do know that the same God who David cried out to is still reigning in heaven today. God hears your prayers. Not only does he hear your prayer, he will answer your prayers as he did David in his hour of need. Let's look one last time at David's words in verse nine. He says:
9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.
Did you hear that? The Lord hears your plea and the Lord will answer your prayer. By the way, don’t let the idea that you don’t know what to pray stop you from praying. David in our scripture today cried and groaned until he was hoarse. No eloquent words are needed. I don’t know if you all remember a couple of months ago Pastor Josh gave us some great advice. He said if you don’t know what to say just say, Hey God, Help!
Before I leave you today, I want to talk to those who are broken-hearted. I want you to know that you are loved and cherished by God. You are not alone even when you feel like you are. He is listening. In fact, I want to pray for you right now!
Father God, you know all of those listening to my voice who are struggling as David did during that long sleepless night. Lord, if it is an issue of sin like it was for David, I pray they repent and turn back to you. If they are struggling with sickness or injury, I pray you give them relief or heal them if it is your will. For those struggling with depression or troubles of the mind, I pray they don’t fight this battle on their own and let someone know and if needed talk to a counselor to help make things clear. Finally, I pray you will be with the rest of us as we go this week. We would reassure those in our lives that need it that he hears their prayers and he is at work even when they don’t see or feel it. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Amen
May you go knowing God hears your pleas and will answer your prayers.
You are sent!
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