David
Psalm 38
A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.
Scripture (KJV)
1O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12They 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.
13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Summary
Psalm 38 is a penitential lament in which David feels the weight of God’s discipline in his body, his spirit, and his relationships. He describes God’s arrows sticking fast in him, no soundness in his flesh, wounds that stink, a heart that roars, and friends who stand aloof. He connects his suffering to his sin: "mine iniquities are gone over mine head." Yet even in silence before his enemies, he hopes in the LORD and resolves to declare his iniquity and be sorry for his sin. The psalm closes with an urgent plea: "Forsake me not, O LORD... Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation."
The major themes are repentance, suffering, discipline, hope, and God as salvation. Practically, the psalm teaches that honest acknowledgment of sin is the path through suffering, and that silence before enemies can be an act of faith. The great lesson is that even under discipline, the believer may cry to the LORD as "my salvation."
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 38
O LORD, rebuke me not in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Your arrows stick fast in me and Your hand presses me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger. My iniquities have gone over my head like a heavy burden. I am troubled and bowed down; I go mourning all the day long. Lord, all my desire is before You and my groaning is not hid from You. My friends stand aloof and my enemies seek my hurt, but I will be as a deaf man who hears not, hoping in You. I will declare my iniquity and be sorry for my sin. Forsake me not, O LORD; be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does this psalm connect physical and spiritual suffering with sin?
- 2What does it mean to declare my iniquity and be sorry for my sin?
- 3When have I felt God’s discipline, and how did I respond?
- 4How can silence before my enemies become an act of faith?
Related Psalms
Psalm 6
“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
A penitent plea for mercy in sickness and distress, ending in confident hope.
Read morePsalm 32
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
The joy of confessed sin forgiven; instruction to trust in the Lord.
Read morePsalm 39
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
A meditation on life’s brevity and a prayer for God to spare and forgive.
Read morePsalm 51
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
David’s great prayer of repentance; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Read morePsalm 130
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”
Psalm 130 is one of the "Penitential Psalms" and a Song of Ascents, beginning in the depths and rising to hope.
Read moreRelated Articles
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