There are seven penitential psalms. Penitential psalms are traditionally used to express sorrow for sin and seek God’s mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. They are a form of devotion that encourages self-examination, confession, and reliance on God’s love and justice.
In Psalm 6, the first of these penitential psalms, the author cries out to God to be saved, with phrases such as “have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength, my bones are shuttering”(v.3), “I am exhausted with my groaning”(v.7), and “my eye wastes away with grief” (v.8).
It is interesting to consider who or what the author of Psalm 6 needs saving. Is there some mysterious “boogeyman” out to get them? Are they haunted by an evil spirit? Possibly, but more than likely the foe the author is battling is their own. Our foes are often within. They are own selfish habits and twisted thoughts.
Let us pray for ourselves and other sinners.
Forgive us our pride.
Forgive us our stubbornness of heart.
Forgive us our unjust anger.
Forgive us our greed.
Forgive us our lust.
Forgive us our mercilessness.
Forgive us our hatred.
Forgive us our envy.
Forgive us our wicked schemes.
Forgive us our deceit.
Forgive the harm we have done.
God of compassion, you hold out to us the hand of your mercy to raise us up from the
misery our selfish sinfulness has brought upon and upon others.
O Lord, hear us! O Lord, pardon us!