Psalms 38

Psalms 38:1-22

the Cry of the Needy Penitent Psalms 38:1-22 A long drawn-out sigh of pain. Some think it should be classed with Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 51:1-19, as belonging to the time of David’ s fall and repentance. It is filled with a sense of God’ s judgments and the profound consciousness of sin. Perhaps David was suffering physically, or he may be describing his spiritual maladies in terms borrowed from that source. His friends stood apart and his enemies were near. But it was wise to refrain from man and to wait only on God. When we are buffeted and derided, the true attitude is our Lord’ s. As the dumb sheep before her shearers, He opened not His mouth! In Psalms 38:15 the tone becomes calmer. The soul begins to recover its center of gravity in God. Notice the fourfold repetition of For, Psalms 38:15-18. Faith marshals her arguments. Out of “ stony griefs” she builds “ Bethels.” Like Samson, she finds honey in the lion’ s carcass. But God will not forsake. He never for a moment withdraws His close attention. The Refiner sits by the crucible, and will cool down the heat the moment it has done its work.

Forsake me not!One of the seven penitential Psalms. It seeks to bring to God’s remembrance his apparently forgotten suppliant (see Septuagint heading). We all should have times of remembrance, when we summon back the past.

Psalms 38:1.The burden of the Psalmist’s prayer.

Psalms 38:2-8 His first plea.Derived from his physical and mental sufferings – Sin’s convictions are as arrows. When God’s holy law is driven home by the Spirit, we are like hunted deer. Many images are introduced: the hunted quarry (Psalms 38:2), disease (Psalms 38:3), the waters rolling over a drowning man (Psalms 37:4), a burden which crushes the bearer to the ground (Psalms 38:4), ah, how blessed that they were not too heavy for the Sin-bearer! (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24). I am troubled might be rendered I writhe (Psalms 38:6). Mourning will soon be exchanged for singing (Psalms 40:3).

Psalms 38:9-12 His second plea. Derived from his ill-treatment by men – God reads the unspoken sorrows of our hearts (Psalms 38:9). Mark the beating, palpitating heart, the failure of strength, the lack-lustre eye (Psalms 38:10). When enemies are nearest, friends are furthest: so it was with our blessed Lord (Matthew 26:56). Malice in deed and malice in thought (Psalms 38:12).

Psalms 38:13-20 His third plea.Derived from his absolute dependence on God – It is well to be deaf to calumny and dumb in self-vindication (1 Samuel 10:27). Let God undertake your cause (Psalms 38:15). How truly might the Messiah have appropriated many of these words! (John 15:25; Matthew 26:62).

Psalms 38:21-22 His Closing Petitions. Thus, faith becomes expectant and triumphant, claiming God as its salvation.