Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for I am shaken to my very bones.
David does not base his request on merits. He says, “Have mercy on me.” His condition is weak, and his whole being is shaken. The phrase “I am shaken even to my bones” portrays deep suffering that has reached down to what is considered the firm foundations of the body. It is possible that at the same time he endured physical illness, spiritual heaviness, and the pressure of enemies. The psalm does not require us to separate these strictly. A person’s body and soul often suffer together. David asks the Lord for healing, acknowledging Him as the source of life. This does not reject medical or human help, but it reminds us that the final refuge is God. The believer can honestly bring his physical and spiritual weakness before Him. Weakness is not shame when it leads us to grace. God’s power often becomes most clearly seen where a person accepts his limitation.