Commentary on the Book of Psalms by John Calvin - Psalm 6

Psalm 6, composed when he suffered severe affliction, depicts a moment of intense struggle and heartfelt repentance. He recognizes that his own sins have provoked divine displeasure, and in seeking relief he cries out to God, not only asking to be spared from severe chastisement but also fearing that death would silence his praises. Though the nature of his suffering remains unclear, the commentary suggests it may not have been a mere physical ailment but rather a profound spiritual crisis. In this desperate state, David acknowledges God’s right to punish sin yet humbly requests mercy rather than strict justice. He openly admits his weakness, describing how dread reached his very bones, and laments that without rescue, he will not honor God among the living. He views affliction as ultimately coming from God’s hand, imploring divine kindness because he understands that forgiveness is the only remedy.



The commentary shows how David’s prolonged sorrow and copious weeping reflect deep inner turmoil caused by the sense of God’s anger. At the same time, once convinced that the Lord has heeded his plea, he decisively shifts from despair to assurance, addressing his enemies with boldness. God’s willingness to hear him reaffirms that true deliverance springs from divine grace alone, not human merit. The mention of Neginoth and “the eighth” likely alludes to musical instructions now obscure to us, underscoring that the psalm was intended for singing.



Ultimately, this passage teaches that the faithful should turn immediately to God when afflicted, confess their sins, and rely on His compassion. Deliverance may come suddenly and unexpectedly, transforming lament into exuberant praise. David’s renewed trust in God’s favor, arising from his sincere repentance and heartfelt petitions, shatters his enemies’ triumph and restores his capacity to glorify the Lord.



This recording is made by Eleven Labs AI audio generated platform: elevenlabs.io/?from=partnerhall9106



Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv...



If you want to support this podcast's operational cost, you can do so here: venmo.com/u/edisonwu