Psalm 38

SLIDE 1 How do we handle sin? I’m not talking about when people sin against us, but when we sin against God. When you have sinned and you know you’ve sinned, how does that affect your relationship with God? Do you feel like praying? Do you feel like you can pray for someone else? Do you feel like you can ask God for anything? James wrote about the prayers of the righteous being powerful and effective. Do you feel your prayers are powerful and effective? Usually not.

We all sin. Paul wrote to the Romans saying: SLIDE 2

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 8:15)

And John wrote: SLIDE 3

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

SLIDE 4 So what do we do with our sin? Turn to Psalm 38. This is a psalm of David. The superscription says:

A psalm of David. A petition.

Psalm 38 is referred to as a penitential psalm. There are seven penitential psalms in the Book of Psalms. The word penitential comes from the word penitence and is a word referring to deep sorrow and regret. In this Psalm, David acknowledges his sin before God. Because of this, this psalm is not a very cheerful one. There’s not a lot of worship and gladness like we see in others. But that’s the way life is. There are times when we need to repent of our sins and quietly reflect.

We do not know what specific sin David has committed. We know about his affair with Bathsheba and we know about the sin near the end of his life when he ordered the army be counted. Psalm 51 was written after that first sin, but we don’t know what sin was behind this psalm. We can assume David did though.

In Psalm 38, David expresses that he was suffering. This time it is not the result of his enemies, but because of the hand of God. David’s suffering is the result of his own sin and he feels God’s hand of discipline. He interpreted this sin as the direct cause of his painful experience. The psalm is an urgent plea for relief from his suffering because he realized his sin had brought the discipline of God. In Psalm 38, David confesses his sin with a broken heart.

SLIDE 5 David cries out to God in the first four verses.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. 3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. (Psalm 38:1-4)

I remember my brother and a cousin jumping on my brother’s bed. One of the rails on the bed broke. My mother was not happy about it. However, when my aunt tried to calm her down she got mad. My aunt continued to tell her not to get mad made her even angrier. She then took the bed apart and took it to the street. Minutes later, someone driving by picked up the bed. Later, when things calmed down, she wished she hadn’t thrown the maple bed frame away, but it was too late. Do not discipline me in your anger. That’s a good lesson for parents to learn. It’s easy when disciplining in the heat of the moment to overreact. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take a step back and cool down before disciplining. That’s what David was asking for.

The assumption David is making is that his problems were being caused by God’s discipline and that he deserved whatever he is receiving. David is not asking God to remove his discipline. He isn’t saying he didn’t deserve it. He only asks that God not discipline him in his anger.

Sometimes we may wonder if God is angry with us and pouring out his wrath because of a particular sin. The answer is no. We know that God does not pour out his wrath on his children. However, he does discipline them. One the cross, Jesus bore God’s wrath for us. What we receive then is not God’s wrath, but his discipline. The author of Hebrews wrote about God’s discipline actually being a sign of his love. SLIDE 6

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? SLIDE 7 8 If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. SLIDE 8 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! SLIDE 9 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. SLIDE 10 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

SLIDE 11 God disciplines those whom he calls his children. Discipline is rarely pleasant but is always for our good. Parents don’t always discipline correctly, but they do what they think is best. God always does what is best.

I think we are slow today to think that God might be discipling us. We can easily come up with any number of reasons for the problem we may be experiencing and we seek out ways to solve it. The last thing we think is that perhaps it is God’s discipline. But David recognized God’s hand and that it was because of his own sin.

David compares God’s discipline to arrows that have pierced him. There were no physical arrows, but that’s the way it felt. David says he has become physically sick. His health is broken. He mentions several physical ailments he is experiencing. He is overwhelmed by his guilt and God’s discipline and he connects his problems to his sin. And yet, David still calls out to God for help. He can bear the anger of others, but he couldn’t bear God’s anger. So, he draws near to God. And this is what I think made him a man after God’s own heart. He couldn’t bear to be separated from God.

Our first instinct is like that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they heard God walking in the garden after they’d eaten from the tree of knowledge. They hid. We often try to hide our sins. But David comes to God.

SLIDE 12 In the next verses, David talks about his chastening.

5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. 7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. 8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. 9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. (Psalm 38:5-10)

Christian comedian Tim Hawkins tells the story of signing autographs after a show one night. One woman asked him to write his favorite Bible verse as well. His favorite verse is Psalm 34:8 which says: SLIDE 13

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

However, that night his mind went blank so he signed his name and wrote Psalm 38:7. Then, for good measure, he wrote that verse for the rest of the autographs that night. When he got home he began to wonder what that verse says. Here’s what he discovered in the KJV: SLIDE 14

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. (Psalm 38:7)

That’s probably not the best verse to put as your favorite. Then he began to imagine all the parents arriving home to read the verse with their children. “Children, let’s gather round for devotions and read Tim Hawkins’ favorite Bible verse. ‘For my. . . .’ Let’s read a different verse.”

SLIDE 15 David is describing some real suffering. It is affecting almost every aspect of his life. He is having physical and emotional problems that he attributes to God’s discipline. Why do we suffer? Job suffered tremendously. He lost his possessions, his wealth, his social standing in the community, and worst of all his children. While we are given some insight into his suffering all we know for sure is that he wasn’t suffering because of anything he’d done. Even God commends the righteousness of Job as Satan stood before him one day. SLIDE 16

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8)

SLIDE 17 While not all suffering is the result of sin, sometimes it is. Sin was the cause Uzziah’s suffering. We looked at his story in January when we looked at some of the losers of the Bible. Uzziah, full of pride, entered into the temple and offered sacrifices when he knew such actions were reserved for the priests. As a result of his sin he was stricken with leprosy.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul mentions how some of their members were sick and some had even died. Paul believed sin was the cause of their suffering. Paul traced their suffering back to the way they had taken the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. SLIDE 18

29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30)

SLIDE 19 When Paul talks about some of them “falling asleep” he’s not talking about a map. He means they died as a result of their sin. What these and other stories from the Bible teach us is that sometimes our suffering is the result of our sin. It’s not always, but it is possible. We live in a world where there is sickness, disease, and accidents. Just because someone is sick or suffering doesn’t mean they’ve sinned.

David describes his suffering, but we also need to see his sorrow. Not all sorrow is the same. Paul mentioned this in his letter to the Corinthians. SLIDE 20

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

There is a sorrow that leads us away from sin. That’s godly sorrow. And then there’s a worldly sorrow that’s just regrets getting caught.

SLIDE 21 Saul was sorrowful when Samuel confronted him with his disobedience. God had instructed him to kill every living thing among the Amalekites, but Saul allowed his men to keep the best of the livestock. He was sorry he got caught, but his sorrow did not lead him back to God.

The rich young ruler was sorrowful when he left Jesus. Jesus had given him the instructions he sought for obtaining eternal life – sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. He left sorrowful, but it wasn’t a godly sorrow leading him to salvation. They were more important to him than Jesus. Jesus had addressed this issue in the Sermon on the Mount when he said: SLIDE 22

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

He was sorrowful that he had to leave his wealth in order to follow Jesus which demonstrated the role his possessions played in his life. His wealth had become the master he loved most.

SLIDE 23 We need to remember that biblical repentance is always a turning to God and not just a turning from sin. There are people who have lived sinful lifestyles and woken up one day to realize the mess they’ve made with their lives. So, whether it’s drugs and alcohol or whatever it is, they stop the destructive behavior. They turn from it without ever turning to God. Biblical repentance means turning to God and away from sin.

Which kind of sorrow was David experiencing? It was a godly sorrow. We know because later in the psalm he confesses his sin.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. 12 Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie. 13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; 14 I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. 15 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” 17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. (Psalm 38:11-17)

Even his friends were aware of his problems and didn’t want anything to do with him. Some have suggested that David’s physical ailment was leprosy and that’s why his friends stayed away. But if that were the case I think the Bible would have said so. It did when Uzziah was given leprosy for his sin. Others think it was a kidney problem or some other intestinal issue. We aren’t told and it’s probably good that we aren’t. If we knew, we might be tempted to limit the application of this psalm to that specific problem. Since we don’t know we are free to apply it to any problem we face and that is as it should be.

At the same time his enemies sought to take advantage of him during this time of weakness. They wanted to kick him while he was down. David says they were laying out traps against him. But David does not hear them. He refused to listen and he refused to respond.

1 Samuel 15 and 16 describe David fleeing Jerusalem when his son Absalom attempted a coup. Along David’s escape route was a man named Shimei. Shimei began throws rocks and cursing David. David’s men wanted to cut off the man’s head. SLIDE 24

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. SLIDE 25 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” (2 Samuel 16:11-12)

David would be silent before people. He would only cry out to God.

SLIDE 26 Verse 15 is the most hopeful part of the psalm. David says he will wait for God. A better translation is hope. David says his hope is in God because he knows God will answer. David has acknowledged that his problems were the result of his own failure. David has talked about his sin, his guilt, his sinful folly, and his iniquity. He is admitting his sin. Yet now he says he waits. What is he waiting for? He’s not waiting for God’s discipline. He’s already receiving that. Now he’s waiting for God to restore him.

When we would discipline our children the last thing we would do is give them a hug and tell them how much we love them. We would reassure them of our love and acceptance of them. Discipline isn’t fun. It isn’t fun for the child or the parent. We discipline, like Hebrews 12 says, because of our love. But it’s then important to remind them that we still love them. David is waiting for this from God. He is sure that God will not turn his back on him. He knows God will answer. His hope was in God.

Something else we should notice in verse 15 is it mentions the three most popular names for God in the Old Testament. The first “Lord” is in all caps and is the covenant name for God Yahweh. The next word Lord is the word Adoni which means Lord or Master. And there is the word God which is from the Hebrew word Elohim. He uses all three names as he cries out to God.

David then admits in verse 17 that he feels like he is about to fall and when he does he does not want them to rejoice. He doesn’t want them to gloat in his downfall.

SLIDE 27 David then confesses his sin.

18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 19 Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good. (Psalm 38:18-20)

With deep contriteness of heart, David acknowledged his sin to God. In other psalms he declares his innocence as his enemies accuse him of wrong doing, but not here. He

Without justifying himself to others, he chose to be like a deaf man, as if he did not hear his enemies’ accusations, and like a mute who did not answer them. Rather, he would wait patiently for God in the presence of those who gloated over his misfortune.

And when it is, the correct response is confession. James wrote: SLIDE 28

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. SLIDE 29 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. SLIDE 30 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. SLIDE 31 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16)

SLIDE 32 When we sin, we need to repent.

David does still have enemies though and he says they dislike him because he seeks to do what is right. David says they lodge accusations against him. The word he uses is the same word that’s used to describe Satan. Satan is the accuser. In Revelation he is described as the accuser of the believers. SLIDE 33

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. (Revelation 12:10b)

David doesn’t live a perfect life, but he tries to. So, he admits his sin to God.

SLIDE 34 Lastly, David calls to God for help.

21 Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. (Psalm 28:21-22)

Once again David uses the three names for God as he did in verse 15: Yahweh, Elohim, and Adoni.

David concludes this psalm as he began it – by calling upon God to deliver him from his affliction. David ends affirming his desire for to be in God’s presence. He knows that if God is with him he can face anything. Perhaps it was the absence of God’s presence that drove him to write this psalm. David’s circumstances haven’t changed, but he affirms his trust in God.

It is important that we confess our sins to God on a regular basis. In the Model Prayer, Jesus instructed us to seek God’s forgiveness constantly.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)

This requires that we acknowledgment of our sins to God. Perhaps we would be astounded to realize how much sickness and suffering are inflicted by a loving God, who chastens us for our sins. Therefore, it is necessary to ask God as David did in Psalm 139: SLIDE 35

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

And as God reveals our sin, allowing us to see ourselves as God sees us, we must admit our sin to him against whom we have sinned for he alone can forgive.

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