Psalm 6, My Bones are Vexed

Psalm 6, My Bones are Vexed

Psalm 6:2-3 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak:O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.3 My soul is also sore vexed:but thou, O Lord, how long?  KJV

We had a little setback in the Brillhart household this week. We've been sorting and cleaning out things in preparation for our move. My wife was putting a bin up onto a high shelf when she fell from the step stool and broke her arm. We are both grateful that she wasn't hurt worse, but this is definitely a vexing situation.

King David describes some dire situation that he went through in Psalm 6. How often do life's circumstances make us feel week? Do we question the Lord like David did: "O Lord, how long?" Is our soul troubled along with our physical troubles? If so, we are in good company, as good King David expressed the same thoughts and emotions.

Is there a reason that we get injured and our plans are disrupted for eight weeks or do these things just happen? Is there a purpose for our pain and suffering or is that just part of life? And most importantly, how do we react when bad things happen?

The psalmist continues to moan and complain some more, but in the end he concludes:

9 The Lord hath heard my supplication;the Lord will receive my prayer.10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed:let them return and be ashamed suddenly. Psalm 6:9-10 KJV

I am no expert on pain and suffering, but I think we will do well if we finally come to the same place and thank the Lord for hearing our prayers. We don't always know the details of the process, but in the end we know that our enemies, death and disease, will be defeated and it will be this enemy that will be vexed. But in the meantime, even though we have pain and are vexed, we can hope in the Lord and pray for comfort and healing. So we say "Thank you Lord", even when our bones are vexed and things just aren't going our way. Maybe that's all we were meant to do anyway.