John Calvin Commentary Psalms 6:1

"O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." — Psalms 6:1 (ASV)

The calamity that David now experienced had perhaps been inflicted by men, but he wisely considers that he has to deal with God. Those people are very unsuitably disciplined by their afflictions who do not immediately take a close and steady view of their sins, in order to produce the conviction that they have deserved the wrath of God.

And yet we see how thoughtless and insensitive almost all people are on this subject; for while they cry out that they are afflicted and miserable, scarcely one in a hundred looks to the hand that strikes. Therefore, from whatever source our afflictions come, let us learn to turn our thoughts instantly to God, and to acknowledge him as the Judge who summons us as guilty before his tribunal, since we, of our own accord, do not anticipate his judgment.

But as people, when they are compelled to feel that God is angry with them, often indulge in complaints full of impiety, rather than find fault with themselves and their own sins, it is to be particularly noticed that David does not simply ascribe to God the afflictions under which he is now suffering, but acknowledges them to be the just recompense of his sins.

He does not take God to task as if God were an enemy, treating him with cruelty without any just cause; but yielding to God the right of rebuking and chastening, he desires and prays only that limits may be set to the punishment inflicted on him. By this he declares God to be a just Judge in taking vengeance on the sins of people.

But as soon as he has confessed that he is justly chastised, he earnestly implores God not to deal with him in strict justice, or according to the utmost rigor of the law. He does not altogether refuse punishment, for that would be unreasonable; and he judged that being without it would be more harmful than beneficial to him: but what he is afraid of is the wrath of God, which threatens sinners with ruin and perdition.

To anger and indignation David tacitly opposes fatherly and gentle chastisement, and this latter he was willing to bear. We have a similar contrast in the words of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 10:24), where he says, O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in your anger. God is, indeed, said to be angry with sinners whenever he inflicts punishment upon them. However, this is not in the proper and strict sense. This is because he not only mingles with it some of the sweetness of his grace to mitigate their sorrow, but also shows himself favorable to them by moderating their punishment and by mercifully drawing back his hand.

But, as we must necessarily be struck with terror whenever God shows himself the avenger of wickedness, it is not without cause that David, according to his human feelings, is afraid of God's anger and indignation. Therefore, the meaning is this: "I indeed confess, O Lord, that I deserve to be destroyed and brought to nothing; but as I would be unable to endure the severity of your wrath, do not deal with me according to what I deserve, but rather pardon my sins, by which I have provoked your anger against me."

Therefore, as often as we are pressed down by adversity, let us learn from David's example to resort to this remedy, so that we may be brought into a state of peace with God. For we cannot expect things to be well or prosperous for us if we do not have his favor. It follows, then, that we will never be without a burden of evils until he forgives us our sins.