Psalms 6:9
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 6 is the first of seven "Penitential Psalms" traditionally used in Christian liturgy for confession and repentance. The superscription attributes it to David, likely composed during a period of severe physical illness and enemy opposition—possibly during Absalom's rebellion or another crisis when David faced both bodily affliction and political threat. Ancient Near Eastern culture viewed illness as potential divine judgment, making David's situation both physically and spiritually desperate.
The psalm's structure reflects ancient Hebrew lament patterns: complaint (vv. 1-7), shift to confidence (vv. 8-10), and implicit praise. This literary form provided a template for honest prayer that doesn't deny pain while ultimately affirming God's faithfulness. Jewish tradition associates this psalm with prayer during sickness, and early Christians used it in end-of-life prayers and funerals, trusting God's deliverance from death's power.
The historical context of Israel's temple worship included professional musicians and singers who led corporate worship using psalms like this. Individual lament psalms became community resources, allowing future generations facing similar trials to voice their pain and faith using David's words. This communal dimension explains how deeply personal psalms function as Scripture for all believers—David's experience becomes a pattern for understanding God's character and faithful response to human suffering.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we cultivate the kind of confidence in prayer that moves from desperate lament to certain assurance of God's hearing?
- What does this verse teach about the relationship between honest lament and faith-filled confidence?
- How should the certainty that God hears our prayers affect how we pray when circumstances don't immediately change?
- What role does understanding God's covenant faithfulness play in maintaining confidence during prolonged suffering?
- How can we help others move from doubt about God's attentiveness to confidence in His hearing, without minimizing their pain?
Analysis & Commentary
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. This triumphant declaration marks the dramatic turning point in Psalm 6, shifting from desperate lament to confident assurance. The Hebrew verb for "heard" (shama, שָׁמַע) means more than auditory perception—it implies attentive response and action. God doesn't merely hear; He acts on behalf of His people. The parallel structure emphasizes certainty: "hath heard" (perfect tense, completed action) and "will receive" (imperfect, ongoing reality).
The word "supplication" (techinnah, תְּחִנָּה) denotes earnest entreaty from a position of need and dependence, while "prayer" (tefillah, תְּפִלָּה) encompasses comprehensive communion with God. The double use of "the LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes covenant relationship—this isn't a distant deity but Israel's faithful covenant God who binds Himself to hear His people. David's confidence doesn't rest on prayer's eloquence or intensity but on God's character and promises.
This verse illustrates a pattern throughout Scripture: faithful lament leads to renewed trust. The psalmist doesn't deny pain or pretend circumstances have changed, but affirms God's attentiveness despite apparent silence. This confidence becomes the foundation for the following verses' bold declaration to enemies. True faith doesn't eliminate struggle but transforms it through the certainty of God's hearing ear and responding heart.