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In Psalm 6 and at verse 5, we read of how King David was so upset and ashamed and guilty that he thought for a moment that it was the end.

Guilt is like the warning light in a car. You can ignore it and run into more serious trouble, or stop and deal with it. "Lord, I want to praise You, but how can I thank You and praise You and serve You from the grave?" It is all there. "The wages of sin is death."

Sin spoils a life, and soils the soul, and floods the mind, and affects our conscience, and depresses our spirit, and influences our heart, and weakens our body.

All this can happen when we are out of tune with God. Every part of our being and relationship with God is affected to some degree, but we can call upon HIM for mercy.

v.6 - David wept at night - a king weeping - a man of God weeping. David is almost swimming in tears. When people realise their sin, and their need for God's Love and His amazing grace, tears do flow, and prayers mixed with tears move the heart of God.

David is almost at breaking point. He is near the edge. Grief and Guilt and Worry are exhausting. His enemies had been rubbing it in, and that is sore too. His enemies were aware of his sin, and that is an added pressure.

Sin in the life of a servant of God shows. This is the man who in the Power of God had defeated Goliath.

God hears us when we are near our breaking point.

This shepherd boy who had been chosen and anointed is so very ordinary, and vulnerable. David is not superhuman - whatever that means.

When we are exhausted by our efforts, or bewildered by our problems, or wounded by our friends, or surrounded by our foes, we can take refuge in God. We have read of God being a shield to David because he trusted in God. Trust in the Hebrew means - to take refuge in - or to hide in - or to hide with. David ran to be with God and for us that means in Christ Jesus.

v.8 - We read of a change. David realises that the Lord God has heard his weeping - not just his prayer but his weeping. God sees his situation, and is now ministering to his very real needs, and he begins to rise taller than Goliath ever was - spiritually speaking.

v 9 God has forgiven him. There is nothing wrong with a time of weeping, but let it be short. There is no need for it to be prolonged. He has taken the matter to God, and he leaves it in the Hands of God.

It was this problem which drew him to God. David knew God could deal with this matter. Confidence in Jesus Christ is no idle dream. Confidence in Christ is real for the disciple of Jesus. The Lord has heard and the Lord accepts.

We all have similar experiences - when it feels like we have fallen into some pit - a pit of failure - a pit of bereavement - a pit of illness - or of dark doubt - or some persistent sin - and in answer to our prayer God has mercifully delivered us.

v.10 - What a prayer! Some might even consider these words rather dreadful, but David didn't, and God doesn't, and that is what matters.

His problems had led him to cry to the Lord. Might similar problems and being so broken bring others to the Lord God? May my enemies realise one day what they have done, and be ashamed and turn back and turn around and ask for mercy.

Many years ago, a friend shared how he just could not get through to certain people. The advice given to him was, “Ask God to send these people real problems until they ask for real help”.

That is what David is saying in verse 10, and yet we know it is not problems which bring people to Jesus in a way that lasts and that they remain in the vine - it is the Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit, to those for whom we pray.

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

A Blessing. Being Blessed