Psalm 6 - A Sleepless Conscience Series

A SLEEPLESS CONSCIENCE

TEXT: Psalm 6:1-10

Psalms 6:1-10 KJV To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. [2] 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? [4] Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. [5] For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? [6] I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. [7] Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. [8] Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. [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.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE SLEEP INDUSTRY

-Time Magazine did an article in January 2013 on the sleep industry. The article was entitled, “The Sleep Industry: Why We’re Paying Big Bucks for Something That’s Free.” Here are some of the snippets of the article:

• Sleep is one of life’s great free pleasures.

• Spending related to sleep has increased 8.8% annually since 2008, reaching about $32 billion in 2012.

• Last year (2012), 73% of American Internet users went online to research health information, and 43% looked specifically for sleep remedies.

• According to the National Sleep Foundation, only 56% of Americans say they get a “good night’s sleep” on a typical work or school night.

• Recent sleep studies have linked insufficient sleep to a host of problems including hypertension, depression, anxiety, diabetes, improper immune functioning, forgetfulness, clumsiness, jumpiness and even things like teen sports injuries.

• To beat the lack of sleep, young adults are largely responsible for supercharged sales of energy drinks such as Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, Rockstar and Monster. In 2012, sales of energy drinks grew 19%. (The annual number of ER visits due to energy-drink consumption doubled over the past four years as well.)

• Product marketers constantly launch new sleep remedies that include sleep-monitoring devices, aromatherapy, teas, supplements, botanicals, balms, bath salts and over-the-counter sedatives in new formulations like tongue strips.

• While overall sales of mattresses have been sluggish throughout the recession era, the opposite is true of more expensive specialty mattresses. Sales of high-end brands like Tempur-Pedic and Select Comfort have skyrocketed over the past few years.

-When you tack on the pharmaceutical industry efforts to get physicians to prescribe medicines to help people go to sleep, more money is to be made.

-Most all of us at some point have had difficulty sleeping for whatever reason. Sometimes it has been the pressures of life, the challenges of the tasks facing us the next day, or some emotional trial that robbed sleep from our eyes. I also have to think that there have been times that we have been in the same condition that David mentions in Psalm 6:6. He says that his tears have robbed him from sleeping. He has a conscience that will not go to sleep. There is a reason that his conscience cannot allow him to sleep—unconfessed sin.

II. THE BACKGROUND OF PSALM 6

A. What Sin Does to Us

-This psalm is about one of the most important things that a saint can do—the confession of sin and repent of it.

-As you read through this particular psalm, it begins with an attitude of allowing the heart to listen and to hear the voice of God as it speaks to the conscience.

-Sin is a great hindrance to our walk with the Lord. The only remedy for sin is to walk in the constant power of the Holy Ghost and allow the Spirit to guide you.

• Sin breaks fellowship with God.

• Sin hinders the work of the Holy Ghost.

• Sin opens us up to the disciplining hand of God.

• Sin declares a contention against God in the soul of a man.

• Sin has fruit that only the Spirit of the Lord can hinder its growth.

• Sin has a power to cause men to lean toward the world and its enticements.

• Sin gives great strength to carnality and puts a soul in jeopardy.

-Those who realize that the only hope they have is the dependence on the Lord will go a long way toward spiritual success.

B. Historical Background

-The historical background of this psalm is hard to pin-point in the life of David. What we do know is that David wrote Psalms 3-41 and that this one came at some point in his life when he was burdened by the impact that sin had upon him.