For those of us who have lived with our own wilful attitude such lamentation is necessary if we are to fully surrender our broken lives to God. With the admission of our total and absolute powerlessness the feelings of confidence in our own self reliance ebbs away (hopefully in a flood of tears), as we open our hearts and minds to God. In these verses the psalmist cast himself in mercy or favor of the Lord. He knows that by covenant he has a right to expect the Lord to act, but his situation is so desperate that he cannot wait. His cry for mercy is an expression of deep despair. His joy in life is gone and his mental anguish has sapped his physical strength to a point approaching death.
As we look on his and our own afflictions we can easily see that these are the real enemies within our own spirit. What a joy overtakes us! Instantly we know that the Lord is trustworthy and loving and will protect us as we become willing to trust in him!
allan_y_marisela