“Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard
the voice of my weeping.”
In this Psalm, King David is severely distraught. His physical ailments are overwhelming him: “my bones are troubled.” Are you suffering from an ailment? Now you know it is not without
precedent. There have been many good men
and women of God who have suffered physically.
What makes this physical suffering of David unbearable, though, is the
thought that he has been separated from God by sin. David knows well enough that sin has its
worldly consequences, but what he expresses in this Psalm is his fear over the
loss of his communion with God. Indeed, iniquity
separates us from God. When we are in
communion with God, when we have a right relationship with Him, the physical
suffering is much easier to bear. Have
you noticed that about saints in your life?
The joy of the Lord is their strength and their focus on Jesus rises
them above their current physical problems.
I visited a dying saint in the hospital, it was the first time we ever
met. She was overjoyed to speak about
God with another person and then took the time to pray for me!
It is with great passion, deep regret and repentance that
David comes before the Lord and begs for mercy.
“It is a sad thing for a man to have his bones and his soul vexed at the
same time; but this has been sometimes the lot of God’s own people.” (Matthew Henry) It is best to address the soul first. David knows God will rebuke him and chasten
him for his sin. However, he asks God
not to rebuke or chasten him in anger. David
begs for mercy, not justice. Justice
would be our condemnation. “Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O
LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled, my soul is greatly troubled;”
(Psalm 6:2-3a). David’s prayer
intensifies with pleadings: “have mercy on me,” “heal me,” “return,”
“delivery me!,” “save me.” “"O
Lord! deliver my soul” from sinning, from sinking, from perishing for ever.
It is an unspeakable privilege that we have a God to go to in our afflictions,
and it is our duty to go to him, and thus to wrestle with him, and we shall not
seek in vain.” (Matthew Henry)
As David confesses in prayer, he also prays in great
faith. Because David has not ignored his
sin, but repented of it before the Lord, he has faith that his prayer has been
heard. We know by another Psalm, that
unrepentant sin hinders our prayers. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18) David
is confident his prayer has been heard.
He is confident his joy in the Lord will be renewed. So confident indeed, that he sees the
‘nay-sayers’ for what they are. They are
those who have ridiculed David and said “where is your God?” David boldly tells them to depart from him.
Is God chastening you?
Friend, pray this prayer of David’s.
Recognize what is separating you from God, repent of it, and beg for
God’s mercy. Depart from the workers of
iniquity, from those who promote sin and make you question your faith. Turn to our loving God who seeks a
relationship with you at the deepest level.
God will heal your soul.
“These verses speak the language of a heart truly humbled
under humbling providences, of a broken and contrite spirit under great
afflictions, sent on purpose to awaken conscience and mortify corruption. Those
heap up wrath who cry not when God binds them; but those are getting ready for
mercy who, under God’s rebukes, sow in tears, as David does here.” (Matthew Henry)
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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