Psalm 38

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Psalm Chapter 38

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah

Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)

Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)

Theme: The First Book of Psalms (c 1-41)

Message: Sorrow for Sin Brings Hope (v 1-22)

Psalms 38 Commentary

(38:1) Penitential Psalms - This is called a penitential psalm because in it David was expressing sorrow for his sin (38:18). He stated that his sin led to health problems (38:1-8) and separated him from God and others, causing extreme loneliness (38:9-14). He then confessed his sin and repented (38:15-22).

(38:1) A Call for Mercy - As a child might cry to his father, David cried to God. David was not saying "Don't punish me" but, "Don't punish me while you are angry." David was acknowledging that he deserved to be punished, but he was asking God to temper his discipline with mercy. Like children, we are free to ask for mercy, but we should not deny that we deserve punishment.

(38:2-4) David's Anguish - David saw his anguish as judgment from God for his sins. Although God does not always send physical illness to punish us for sin, this verse and others (Acts 12:21-23; 1 Corinthians 11:30-32) indicate that he does in certain circumstances. Our sins can have physical or mental side effects that can cause great suffering, Sometimes God punishes his children in order to bring them back to him (Hebrews 12:5-11). When we repent of our sin, God promises to forgive us. He delivers us from sin's eternal consequences, though he does not promise to undo all of sin's earthly consequences.

(38:13-14) Jesus is Our Reputation - Being silent can be extremely difficult when others tear us down because we want to defend ourselves and protect our reputations. We find it difficult to do nothing while they assault us. But you don't need to lash back in revenge or justify your position; you can trust God to protect your reputation. Jesus was silent before his accusers (Luke 23:9-10); he left his case in God's hands ( Peter 2:21-24). That is a good place to leave our case too!

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Salvation in Christ Alone

Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 38. In our text today, we see a theme of true sorrow, for sin brings hope. We see that God alone is the trustworthy source for our healing, forgiveness, and protection for those who confess and repent of their sins. In applying, we see that our good works or intentions are not good enough to forgive our sins. It is the blood of Christ and our confession and repentance in the finished work on Calvary that gains us a home in Heaven when we die. How about you? Have you repented of your sin and attained Salvation? Let us learn from our Psalm and text today to remember that we cannot work for our Salvation. Still, it only comes through confession and repentance in the finished work at Calvary.

Psalm 38

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Psalm 38

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.

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