What does Psalm 6:5 mean?

A theme of David's life was a sincere desire to praise and worship God (Psalm 9:1–2; 34:1; 145:1–2). As his situation becomes dire, David may have thought death was near. He notes that those who are dead cannot honor God or worship Him. "Sheol" refers to the grave or the realm of the dead. Old Testament believers did not have as clear a picture of life beyond the grave as do New Testament believers. David was thinking that dead bodies cannot remember the Lord and praise Him.

He wants the Lord to deliver him and keep him alive so he can reflect on God's character and goodness and praise Him for both. However, Old Testament believers did have a faint idea of what lay beyond death. For instance, in Psalm 49:15 the psalmist declares, "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me."