This is Time Out with the Psalms, and today we turn to Psalm 6, called one of the penitential psalms, that is a psalm of repentance. I suppose the most famous penitential psalm is Psalm 51. There are several in the book of Psalms where David is repenting and he is confessing his sins to the Lord. I'm going to read this psalm, and then we'll have a few comments, and then prayer. In Psalm 6, O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak. O LORD, heal me now, for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed, but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul. O save me for thy mercy's sake. For in death there's no remembrance of thee, in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning. All the night make I my bed to swim. I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief. It waxes old because of all mine enemies. depart from me all ye workers of iniquity for the lord hath heard the voice of my weeping the lord has heard my supplication the lord will receive my prayer let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed let them return and be ashamed suddenly david seems to be dealing as he did in Psalm 5 with enemies, and they brought him to a place of tears. Although he was a courageous soldier and a brave soldier, there were times in the night when his griefs were overwhelming. And sometimes his griefs were because of his own sins, his own shortcomings, his own failures. God give us Christians that can weep, not in compassion only for others, but also in confession of our sins. God help us not to be hard hearted or stiff necked when the Holy Spirit and the Word of God convict us of our sins. And whenever difficulties come, let our first response be, Lord, are you chastening me? Are you doing something in my life? Not that we're the center of all things or the consequence of all things. But every situation should be an opportunity for us to ask, how is it with my soul? Am I listening to God? Am I loving the Lord with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind? Is God allowing these enemies to cast me upon my savior for help? He has very great confidence here that God will hear and his enemies will be confounded. And as in all these imprecatory Psalms, it's important that we leave that judgment with God and that we leave the sorting out with God. God is going to set it right. What we need to do is be honest with God, agree with God about sin. That's what confession is, to say the same thing about sin that God says about sin. Not to cover it up, not to make excuses, but to agree with God about sin. And then we can expect God to heal us and help us and carry us forward. Let us pray. Father, we pray you would bless your word, bless this psalm, bless our hearts to be honest and open. Father, we all sin and come short of your glory every day. Help us to confess our sins. If we say we have no sins, the truth is not in us, the gospel. writer said, and that's very true. Help us to repent and understand that we have forgiveness in Jesus Christ. In his name we pray.