Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, and do not punish me in Your wrath.
David does not ask that God would never rebuke or correct him. He pleads that this rebuke would not come in the form of destroying wrath and severe judgment. He recognizes his sinfulness and God’s holiness, yet he places his hope in the Lord’s mercy. God’s rebuke in the believer’s life can be fatherly discipline, whose purpose is not to destroy, but to turn one from sin, cleanse the heart, and restore the person. David asks that, instead of the severity of righteous judgment, God’s compassionate correction would be at work toward him. This prayer teaches us to stay away from two extremes. A person must not treat sin lightly, thinking it has no serious consequence. At the same time, he must not despair, thinking there is no longer any hope of mercy. The repentant person does not justify himself and does not argue with God, but humbly acknowledges his sin and appeals to His compassion. In the New Covenant the believer knows that Christ took upon Himself the condemnation of sin. Therefore the one who is in Christ is not under final condemnation (Romans 8:1). Yet this does not mean that God overlooks the sins of His people. He continues, with fatherly love, to discipline, correct, and sanctify them. That discipline is not a judge’s destroying punishment, but the Father’s correcting work. Therefore the believer’s right response is humble repentance, turning away from sin, and trusting in God’s mercy.