Psalm 38 Vulnerability to Victory (The Path of Forgiveness)

Vulnerability to Victory (The Path of Forgiveness)

INTRO:

Each week on America’s God Talent millions of people watch singers put themselves out there for public critique.

Most of you love to watch this kind of stuff, but you would never want to do it. Vulnerability terrifies us.

University of Houston professor and author Brené Brown explains that “Vulnerability is courage in you and inadequacy in me.”

Meaning we love to support people when they put themselves in difficult situations in order to grow, but we are hesitant to do so ourselves.

But many of you have experienced that when we are vulnerable in a safe environment it can lead to growth.

Psalm of memorial (remembrance).

vv.1-8 David’s Condition

The Path of Forgiveness starts with being honest with yourself.

David recognizes that his current situation has been caused by his own “foolishness” (v.5).

He was not trying to lie to himself, he was aware that God knew everything he had ever done.

Ps. 69.5 “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.”

I have to say I was not impressed with David’s use of the word “folly.” Like many today, it seems he is hesitant to call his sin what it really is.

So, David wasn’t taking a casual approach to his sin.

He was not denying his need for God’s correction, but he did not want to experience God’s anger.

He understood that God’s anger is reserved for his enemies, but God corrects those he loves.

Pr.3:11-12 “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”

I know some of you hear the word “discipline” and you get anxious. You have trusted someone and become vulnerable only to see this great responsibility abused, but it is good to remember here that God’s discipline, his correction, his judgement can’t be separated from his perfect love, mercy, and grace.

You cannot separate the attributes of God.

Ex. You’ve seen it when a godly woman in traffic on Coleman Blvd. can be driven to madness that is not consistent with her normally godly character -

but, God never deviates from his character.

Trusting in God’s mercy, justice and holiness, David - knew that his condition was an opportunity for improvement.

God’s correction is always an opportunity for growth.

Don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that it will be enjoyable.

Listen how David describes God’s correction.

Ps. 38.2 “For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.”

Ps. 38.4 “For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.”

When we are honest with ourselves we can see that our situation is too much for us to bear.

The weight of unconfessed sin is too heavy for you to carry, but Jesus has carried it for you on the cross. That’s the good news we will soon see more clearly.

Throughout this Psalm we see David’s conscience tearing at him.

All because of his “foolishness” - he was bent over mourning all day long, his stomach was hurting, and the light of his eyes was gone (v.10).

We can’t read this and move on without realizing that there can be physical consequences for sin.

That doesn’t mean there always is, but there surely can be.

Job was a righteous man and he experienced all that David did, and more.

Jn 5 There was a man laying by a pool who had been handicapped for 38 years. Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be well?” The man said he didn’t have anyone to help him get into the pool for healing. Jesus told him, “get up, take your bed, and walk.” And he did!

Later Jesus found the man in the temple and told him, “See, you are well! Sin no more that nothing worse may happen to you.”

We don’t want to give too much emphasis to the connection of sin and sickness, but we can’t overlook it.

However, physical health was not David’s main concern, but fellowship with God was.

The path of forgiveness starts with being honest about where you are Spiritually.

(vv.9-14) David’s Concern

The path of forgiveness requires that you prioritize your concerns.

The path starts by being honest with your self in light of the righteousness of God, then we move to properly prioritize our concerns in light of the Word of God.

Most of us have this backwards! We are more concerned with our physical health than we are with our spiritual health.

We adhere to strict diets, invest time and money into physical trainers, we even go and have our physical appearances altered so we can seem healthier and younger than we actually are.

These things are not wrong! In fact they can be really good, but in comparison to your physical condition how concerned are you for your spiritual health?

David shows where his concern was at this point. It wasn’t his physical or his relational distress.

Look at the comparison David makes in v.9 & 11.

Ps. 38.11 “My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.”

Ps. 38:9 “O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.”

David makes an interesting comparison here. He shows that God is aware and involved, but his friends and family are distant and avoiding him.

David’ doesn’t cry out for God to no longer discipline him, but that he would remember him.

He was suffering internally and externally, but he believed that God’s presence was all that he needed.

Think about it. Could things get any worse for David?

Spiritually Convicted

Physically Ill

Relationally cutoff

And now his enemies are seeking his death.

I think I am having a bad day when they get my order wrong at the coffeeshop.

But, David’s situation is horrible, however his perspective in vv.13-14 is helpful for because he shows a contrast between the busy rambling of his enemies and his quiet confidence in the Lord.

Do you see the tension in David. He recognizes that he disobeyed God, that he was being judged for it, yet faith was at work keeping him focused on the things of God.

He wasn’t overly distracted by earthly things, he was determined to wait upon the Lord.

Ps. 37.7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

The path of forgiveness prioritizes God’s presence over earthly concerns.

(vv.15-22) David’s Confidence

The faithfulness of God is the basis of forgiveness, not my circumstances.

v.15 - David gives us a great example throughout his life of waiting on the Lord.

His waiting shows how and why he bore the attacks of his enemies in silence - he knew that God would defend him, answer for him, and deliver him for better than he could.

Matthew Poole writes that David understood that though friends would forsake him, and enemies plot and practise against him, yet he did not despair, because he has God on his side.

David’s confidence was rooted in God’s faithfulness, and it led him to repentance. His hope was in nothing else.

Ps. 38.18 “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.”

David was on the path of forgiveness - his life was not a life of ease but a life of being honest with himself, a life of prioritizing God over this world, and of resting in the faithful forgiveness of God.

Friends, like David your body would fail you, your enemies will pursue him, your friends and family may abandon you - but God will never forsake you.

David was able to move from vulnerability to victory in his life because he was more sure in the faithfulness of God than he was in the situations of this life.

David displayed this confident surety in God’s faithfulness in vv.13&14, but it is best seen in the life of Christ.

1 Pet. 2:22-25 “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Application:

Yes, David is a great example and there are a few applications I would like to make from Ps.38, but first we have to see that apart from Christ, we like David, remain foolish in the eyes of God, we would never cry out “O Lord,” we would never wait upon the Lord, and we would not be willing to declare that we are “sorry for our sins.”

Peter went on to write, “Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Because of the faithfulness of God in Christ, you and I can walk the path of forgiveness - we can die to sin and live to please God.

This can look many different ways, but we see in Ps.38 that David:

1. Prioritized God’s word over negative earthly influences (v.14-15).

a. “But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

2. Confessed sin when we become aware of it. (v.18).

Friends, Jesus became vulnerable before the perfect holiness of God, and as God he was found to be holy himself. Therefore, he could bear your sins in his body on the tree, that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Church - Confidently walk the path of forgiveness in Christ’s strength - he became vulnerable so that you can be victorious!