David gave us this Psalm as a model for how to respond when suffering in soul and body. He turned his sufferings into songs and left them for us to use. What do we do with our negative feelings? We are not to be controlled by them, for they do not necessarily tell us the truth. Storm clouds make it seem there is no sun, but the sun is still there, shining. However, feelings are real, so we cannot just ignore them. David shows us that we can bring our negative feelings to the Lord and express them to Him. So, he starts with a LAMENT, where he MOURNS the apparent absence of God, and seeks more of His Presence in his heart and life, 4 times crying out 'how long?' (v1,2). This is the first step of faith, which is to turn to the Lord and look to Him as our Source, our Helper and Healer. By mourning before God in a submissive way, expressing our feelings of loss (of God's Presence), and looking to Him, we open ourselves up to God, for Him to comfort us by His Presence. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). David had spent many days wrestling with his own thoughts, struggling in his own strength, but this did not help his depression (v2), because only God can restore us. Faith begins when we come to Him and seek Him.
In this situation, David was facing a particular enemy, that was exalting itself over him (v2,4), possibly a sickness, that was threatening his life (v3), as well as people who troubled him, who would rejoice at his death. The Bible calls death an enemy (1Corinthians 15:26), and sickness is incipient death. Having come to God (v1-2), David then takes the next step of faith by making a petition to God, a prayer of faith to receive his deliverance from death and restoration of body and soul (v3-4). David's motivation and basis for his prayer is the glory of God, that he would not die too soon, before he had accomplished God's will for his life, for then his enemies (and God's enemies) would prevail. We also discuss whether the SLEEP of DEATH refers to the body or the soul (Psalm 7:5, Daniel 12:2, 1Thessalonians 4:13-14, John 11:11-13, Isaiah 14:18, 1Corinthians 11:30, 15:51). Through this petition, David put his trust in God for the healing of his body and soul (v5). Thus (1) having come to God in his deep need through a lament (v1-2), he (2) believed he received his restoration of health through a petition of faith (v3-4).
His final step of faith, was to confidently declare his faith, giving thanks to God for His salvation, knowing that God was good and was dealing bountifully with him (v5-6). David's rejoicing was not based on a sudden change in his circumstances or manifestation of healing, but because he was confident that God had heard his prayer and that therefore the answer was assured. He was now trusting in God's covenant love, fully assured that what God promised He would bring to pass. Likewise, when we come to God and believe we receive His promise, we should then express our faith by giving Him thanks, that He has heard and answered our prayer, so that now He is working bountifully and powerfully in our life and restoring our soul and body according to His promise. God releases His answer in the Spirit, so that its manifestation in the natural normally takes place over a period of time. During this time, we should stand in faith, trusting in His love, faithfulness and power toward us, continually giving thanks that He is at work, bringing His promise to pass. For example, when we have put our trust in God for our healing (Exodus 15:26), we should then express our faith by thanking God that His healing power is continually working in our body, driving out all sickness and making us strong and whole.