Summary
Every week in our service we have a prayer of confession, and sing a responsive song after the prayer. It is part of our liturgy, our order of service. In the early church, various psalms were sung in this part of the service. Psalm 38 is one of those psalms, a penitential psalm.
Psalm 38 is a song of lament for the suffering caused by sin. The psalmist, David, suffers under God’s discipline for his sins, affecting his own personal health and his relationship to others. Yet despite God’s discipline so keenly felt, he turns to God for forgiveness of sins and rescue.
Our passage explained
v1-10
The psalm begins with David recognising he is under God’s discipline for his sins. He asks God to “rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!” (v.1). He knows that his suffering which he will describe is the result of his sin.
In verses two to ten David describes the effect on his personal health. While God’s arrows are (metaphorically) said to fall into the enemies of his people, in this case they “have sunk into me” and God’s hand is against David because of his sin (v.2). His physical health has suffered “because of your indignation … because of my sin” (v.3), recognising that divine punishment of his sin is the cause. His sins are like water over his head or a heavy burden he cannot bear (v.4).
The physical suffering he experiences is dramatic. His sins (which he describes as foolishness) have caused “wounds [to] stink and fester” (v.5), while he feels physically feeble and crushed as “all the day I go about mourning” (vv.6-8). Physically and mentally he is beaten down by his sin.
David knows his sin and his pain is not hidden from God, who sees all things. He knows that God sees his longing (v.9) and that his ill health and lack of vitality is apparent in his eyes (v.10).
v11-16
David’s sin has also affected his relationship with others. Firstly, friends and family have deserted him (v.11), perhaps because of his physical affliction but possibly also because they realise it is from God and do not want to get caught in the backwash.
Secondly it provides opportunities for his enemies to seek his ruin and further harm (v.12). Instead of trying to defend himself against their accusations, he stays mute (vv.13-14). He cannot help himself (recognising his discipline from God, it is possible they will not listen) and does not try.
Instead, David relies on God to deliver him from his enemies. He directs his prayer to God, trusting him to respond and that his enemies are not enabled to rejoice at the downfall of one of God’s people (vv.15-16).
v17-20
We then see David turn to God for forgiveness and rescue. He describes himself as ready to fall, perhaps in shame before his enemies (v.17). He repents and confesses his sin before God, saying “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin” (v.18). He must do so before he can be restored.
David then expresses his need for deliverance. He describes his enemies (from verse twelve) as being strong and ready to attack him (v.18), repaying his good deeds with evil in their own sinfulness (vv.19-20). They hate him wrongfully, and “accuse me because I follow after good” in confessing his sins and seeking to do God’s will (vv.19-20).
The psalm closes with David seeking restoration and help. In verse twenty one, he describes the feeling of isolation from God he feels and asks God not to forsake him or be distant from him. He then asks God to come and save him quickly from his enemies (v.22).
Our passage applied
In this passage we are reminded of the very real consequences of sin. Sin affects our relationship with God, with others, and afflicts our very being. As God’s children, we should not be surprised when God disciplines us like a loving father (Hebrews 12:5-11). We should also not be surprised when sin, which is not part of God’s good creation, affects our relationship to other parts of creation.
But we should also be careful not to over apply this psalm to all situations. Sometimes, as in this psalm, physical suffering is clearly the result of sin (eg, certain diseases or physical pains which come from sinful acts). However, other times, physical suffering or estrangement from family and friends is not (eg, John 9, or Job’s suffering). Physical or other harms may be the result of sin or not; we should not jump to conclusions in other’s lives.
Instead, we should see in this psalm hope. Our sins and the consequences are too much to bear (v.4), but Christ bore the cup of sin and God’s wrath for us (Luke 22:42-5). Because Jesus bore sin’s penalty, we may receive forgiveness and rescue from our sins and its eternal consequences, and restored fellowship with God. All if we join David in saying “I am sorry for my sin.”
Resources
Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.
