“For there is no mention of You in death. In Sheol who will give you thanks?” (Psalm 6:5).

This verse is often used by conditionalists to support the doctrine of soul sleep. The context is evident that the psalmist is struggling emotionally and spiritually against the adversaries. He is greatly dismayed and is seeking the guidance of the Lord. The psalmist asks the Lord to not rebuke him in his anger (v. 1), that he is pining away (v. 2), that his soul is greatly dismayed (v. 3). He asks the Lord to save him in his kindness (v. 4).  That is when he says there is no mention of God in Sheol (v. 5).   He goes on to say that he is weary with his sinning (v. 6) and that he is full of grief (v. 7). He then tells the wicked to depart (v. 8) because the Lord has heard his prayer (v. 9). He then finishes the Psalm by saying that the enemies will be ashamed (v. 10).

If this verse was all there was in the Bible, then we might conclude that the dead are not aware. However, we must harmonize all of Scripture, and in both the Old and New Testaments, we see instances of people being alive after physically dead.

• 1 Sam. 28:15, “Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ And Saul answered, ‘I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do.'”
• Luke 16:23-25, “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony,” (See article Luke 16:19-31, the rich man and Lazarus).
• 2 Cor. 12:2-4, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows, 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.” (See the article Annihilationism and 2 Corinthians 12:2, in the body or out of the body, caught up to heaven)

Conclusion

This is an Old Testament passage that is dealing with human distress. If it were the only verse in the Bible that spoke about Sheol, the conditionalist might be able to make his case for soul sleep. But it isn’t. Nevertheless, to conclude that Psalm 6:5 teaches soul sleep without considering the revelation of the New Testament would be a mistake. But this has not stopped some conditionalists from interpreting the New Testament in light of the Old Testament. In other words, they will use the Old Testament to explain what the New Testament “really” means. But that is a wrong approach. It is always the New Testament that explains the Old Testament. Nevertheless, since other Scriptures speak against the idea of soul sleep (as listed above), then we know that Psalm 6:5 is not teaching it. Instead, it is a plea of a man in distress who speaks of God out of his dire situation. That is why he says there is no mention of God in Sheol.