“O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.” Psalm 6

“Psalm 6 is a psalm of prayer. It laments the great yet hidden suffering of the conscience when, on account of sins, one’s faith and hope are tormented by the law and anger of God and driven to despair or erring faith. This suffering is called elsewhere in the Psalter “the bonds of death” and “the ropes of hell,” or “the misery of death” and “the anguish of hell.” At the end of Psalm 6, the psalmist sees that his prayer has been heard. He is therefore a trustworthy example for those who find themselves in such affliction, so that they may not remain in it. The psalmist rebukes the workers of evil, that is, the false saints who generally hate and persecute such afflicted people. Because their comfort is in their own holiness, they know nothing of these trials. They are therefore utter enemies of the true faith. This psalm belongs to the First and Second Commandments because it commends the struggle of those who believe in God and pray against sin and death. It is in the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, as are all other psalms of prayer, because its prayer is that God’s name be called upon and blessed.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

Many times we make the wrong changes — changes to our jobs, to our marriages, changes to our place of worship. Sometimes the reasons are valid — but many times they are simply because we are unhappy with life, with ourselves, even with G-d. The roots of this unhappiness is often sin. Better said, often what is eating at us is the unhappiness we feel about ourselves. We know we need to change, but it is easier to blame our unhappiness on something else. And then, over time, our conscience calls within us that we are not doing what is right and there must be changes made.

When it is time for change, then it is time for us to go before G-d with a change of mind and heart. How needed this is among so many today. In the distress of our own unrighteousness we need to remember that the Lord calls us to turn to G-d — and not run from the G-d. In the distress of our arguments, our anger, our unrighteousness, and our poor decisions, we need to turn to the Lord and ask for forgiveness — and for reconciliation. Just like the Prodigal Son, when we return to the Father, He is always there to take us back. It does not matter what sins have been committed, the Lord welcomes us home with open arms.

Prayer

O Lord, God of mercy, forgive us all our sins for the sake of the bitter sufferings of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us a triumphant faith by which we may obtain the victory in all afflictions and temptations, and uphold us by Your grace when we must pass through the valley of the shadow of death. Amen.

“Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. 4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. 9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5

“Psalm 5 is a psalm of prayer against the false teachers and the rebellious spirits. It harshly condemns both their glistening teaching and their works, by which—under the name of God—they do great harm to the pure Word of God and the true worship of God. The psalm prays for the righteous, that is, for the pure Word of God and the pure worship of God. In the last verse it promises that such a prayer will be heard and the rebellious spirits will be condemned. This psalm belongs to the Second and Third Commandments, in which we are commanded to keep both God’s name and God’s Word holy. It belongs to the First and Second Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, in which we pray that God’s name, honor, and kingdom will be advanced.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” This is the greatest blessing of all – the favor of G-d. Knowing that G-d looks on us with favor and covers us with righteousness as like a shield. This should be one of the greatest feelings for a believer. This is our standing in grace before G-d through the works of Jesus Christ.

The shield of favor from G-d is armor over armor. This is how fully the favor of G-d, our standing in grace, protects us. When Martin Luther was on his way to face a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church to answer for what they said were his heretical teachings, one of the Cardinal’s servants taunted him saying, “Where will you find shelter if your patron, the Elector of Saxony, should desert you?” Luther answered, “Under the shelter of heaven.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Light of the world and alone the Way to eternal life. Restrain the corrupters of Your Word and all the enemies of Your truth. Preserve the truth of Your Gospel in these latter days and in faithful teachers who will lead us in the way everlasting. Grant us to serve You in steadfast faith and a good conscience to our end. Amen.