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Day 43

"O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger..."

Day 43 – Psalm 6

“O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger…” Psalm 6:1a

AN ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION

Psalm 6 also has a superscription attached. This reads,

“To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.
On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.”

1. Standard features

a) To the Chief Musician in charge of looking after the psalms and music arrangement.
b) Stringed instruments
c) A Psalm of David

2. New feature: “On an eight-stringed harp”

a) Different suggestions have been made as to what this new instruction means:-
i) Reference to an actual eight-stringed harp.
ii) Featuring the eight-stringed harp.
iii) The word “on” can also be translated “upon” giving rise to the suggestion that on the octave a special melody be played to accompany the singing of this psalm.
b) No definite conclusion can be reached as to what this musical direction means!

A STRONG LAMENT PSALM

One thing however is very clear as we read Psalm 6. This is a very strong “lament psalm”. Deep anguish was experienced by the author David as he struggled with his enemies. Unfortunately the text does not pin-point the actual period of time when he felt so low.

“O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.”
Psalm 6:1

1. Anger…Displeasure

a) There is evident fear of the Lord’s anger and hot displeasure.
b) There is deep sadness for having caused God to be angry and displeased.

2. Rebuke…Chasten

To rebuke and to chasten was God’s prerogative (Proverbs 3:11-12; 2 Samuel 7:14). David feared for the worst if God were to give full vent to His righteous anger!