Psalm 38

Psalm 38 KJV (WS)

1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Introduction

What is the darkest moment in David’s life?

Pleas for help. (vss 1-2)

Psalm 38:1–2 KJV (WS)

1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

David makes a dual plea to God.

Rebuke me not.

Neither chasten me.

David has committed some sin that has given God cause to be upset with David.

His actions have led to God’s wrath.

His behavior has ignited God’s hot displeasure.

David is feeling the pain of God’s judgment.

The arrows of God have hit home.

The hand of God weighs down on David.

Description of suffering. (vss 3-8)

Psalm 38:3–8 KJV (WS)

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Verse 3 points to the feeling that sin leaves us with.

We are not sound/complete.

Sin leaves a hole in our life.

It leaves us wanting more.

It makes us realize what we are missing out on.

It withholds rest from us.

Why?

Verse 4 tells us.

Our sins are too much for us to handle.

They are too heavy a burden for us to carry.

Far from making our lives better or more enjoyable, sin wounds us.

According to verse 5 David has caused his own wounding.

David was a warrior.

He knew what festering, infected wounds smelled like.

This comparison of sin to an infected wound would have produced a graphic picture in David’s mind.

In verse 6, David displays the tell-tale signs of depression.

Sin is not the sole cause of depression.

It is a possible cause of depression.

David senses his defilement.

He understands and acknowledges the damage that he has caused by his sin.

He feels the consequences of his actions.

Wishes lifted to God. (vss 9-10)

Psalm 38:9–10 KJV (WS)

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

These verses contain David’s desires for restoration.

Despite his guilt and pain, David still desires a relationship with God.

This desire is not hid from God.

The pain that David feels over his sin is seen by God as well.

Description of alienation from the community. (vss 11-14)

Psalm 38:11–14 KJV (WS)

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

One of the most dreadful effects of sin is that it causes isolation.

This is can be beyond our control.

It can also be self-imposed.

Why, when people are struggling do they isolate themselves.

Sin also opens the door for people to throw stones at us.

When we know we have transgressed, it makes it hard for us to stick up for ourselves.

We feel like we deserve to just stand there and take it.

The psalmist is not saying that this is right, he’s just rehearsing what sin makes us feel like.

Wishes lifted to God. (vss 15-20)

Psalm 38:15–20 KJV (WS)

15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

David feels like his life hangs in the balance.

He feels the waiting eyes of his critics.

He can sense the weakness of his own position.

He is convinced that his enemies are growing more and more powerful.

He hopes that God won’t leave him hanging out to dry.

The good news is that God never fails those that have trusted in Him.

We are all sinners.

None of us deserve for God to go to bat for us.

Final Plea for help. (vss 21-22)

Psalm 38:21–22 KJV (WS)

21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Conclusion

Psalm 38 is a powerful prayer of lament and repentance, expressing the anguish and distress of the psalmist. While the specific circumstances of the psalmist may not directly apply to a modern audience, the underlying themes and emotions can resonate with people today. In a modern context, Psalm 38 can be applied to individuals who are experiencing deep sorrow, guilt, or a sense of brokenness.

Individuals burdened by guilt, remorse, or the consequences of their own actions can relate to the psalmist's acknowledgment of personal sin and the resulting feelings of shame. They can find inspiration in the psalmist's plea for forgiveness and the desire to turn away from wrongdoing, seeking reconciliation and a renewed relationship with God.

In applying Psalm 38 to a modern audience, it is essential to emphasize the universal human experiences of pain, sorrow, guilt, and the need for redemption. By recognizing the shared emotions and struggles expressed in this psalm, individuals today can draw on its timeless message of hope, seeking healing, forgiveness, and the restoration of their relationship with God.