For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger.

Do not discipline me in your raging fury.

2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail.

Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking.

3 I am absolutely terrified,

and you, Lord—how long will this continue?

4 Relent, Lord, rescue me!

Deliver me because of your faithfulness.

5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death.

In Sheol who gives you thanks?

6 I am exhausted as I groan.

All night long I drench my bed in tears;

my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

7 My eyes grow dim from suffering;

they grow weak because of all my enemies.

8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,

for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;

the Lord has accepted my prayer.

10 They will be humiliated and absolutely terrified.

All my enemies will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

The part of this Psalm that stands out the most to me is verses 4 to 5. It’s almost like David is telling God “you should rescue me BECAUSE otherwise I’ll be in hell where I won’t remember you anymore”. Almost shaming God into saving him. This veers towards the issue of why God would want anyone in hell if He is an all-loving God. Or another way is if God is full control and cares about His ego, wouldn’t he want everyone to be with Him so they can praise Him?

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved