Psalm 38
This is the third of the penitential psalms and, as you would expect, it has things in common with its predecessors (6, 32). Compare 6:1 with 38:1; 32:3 with 38:3, 8, 13–14; and 32:5 with 38:18. The description here of David's physical condition is similar to the one in 32, so perhaps both psalms (along with 51) came out of the same sad situation. David's sins (vv. 3, 4, 18) had brought God's chastening to his life, and David was a very sick man. Not all affliction comes from disobedience (John 9:1–3), but physical troubles can be a consequence of sin (John 5:14). David doesn't question the legitimacy of his suffering, for he admitted his sins (v. 18), but he wonders why his suffering is so severe. Like the prophet Habakkuk, David wanted God to remember to be merciful (Hab. 3:2). The title "to bring to remembrance" (kjv) is found also at Psalm 70. The New American Standard Bible reads "for a memorial"
Along with the blessing of provision and protection is the blessing of the Lord's presence with His people (vv. 25–26). As an elder saint, David bore witness to God's faithfulness to him and his descendants. Not only did God meet every need, but He gave enough so that David could share it with others (Luke 6:38). As we pray for daily bread (Matt. 6:11), the Lord answers. God also blesses His people by enabling them to live obedient lives (vv. 27–29), which means righteousness in character and justice in conduct. God's blessing on the godly continues in the lives of their children, but the descendants of the wicked are cut off. Alas, the sins of ungodly fathers influence their children to disobey God, and the Lord has to punish them as well. Finally, God blesses the righteous with His Word (vv. 30–31). God's Word in
Psalm 38
David's focus now was on the people around him, and he felt abandoned and lonely. The people who should have encouraged and comforted him—his loved ones and friends—kept their distance, along with his enemies, who wanted him to die. David expected his enemies to plot against him (v. 12), gloat over his fall (v. 16), hate him, slander him, and return evil for the good he did to them (vv. 19–20), but he didn't think his friends and relatives would turn against him. (See 31:11–12; 41:9; 69:8; 88:8, 18; Job 19:13–19.) "Sore" in verse 11 means "a stroke, a blow" and is sometimes translated "a plague," the word used to describe leprosy. David's family and closest friends were treating him like a leper and keeping their distance. They didn't want to be contaminated! But before we criticize them, have we been obeying Galatians 6:1–2 and 2 Corinthians 2:5–11?
and the New International Version "a petition." For God to "remember" someone means that He begins to act on their behalf and meet some need (Gen. 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; 1 Sam. 1:19). David wanted God to remember him and grant forgiveness and healing. When God's people suffer the consequences of sin and feel the chastening hand of God, they must choose one of three responses.
We Can Focus on Ourselves and Experience Sin's Painfulness (vv. 1–8) Pain hurts, and David wasn't ashamed to write about it, using a number of vivid images to convey to the Lord and to us the severity of his suffering. Like a loving Father, the Lord first rebuked David and then chastened him, both of which are evidences of His love (Prov. 3:11–12; Heb. 12:1–11). If we don't listen to the words of His heart, we will have to feel the weight of His hand (32:4; 39:10–11). Alexander Maclaren compared "hot displeasure" to "hot bubbling lava" about to erupt. God was also shooting "arrows" at David, hurling down one affliction after another with great force (see Job 6:4; 7:20; 16:12; "mark" means "target"). He was drowning in a sea of suffering (v. 4; see 42:7; 69:2, 14; 88:16; 124:4; 130:1–2), and the whole experience became a burden too heavy for him to carry.
As he grieved over his sins and over the unconcern of his loved ones, David realized that his enemies were plotting to get him out of the way (v. 12). They talked about his ruin and destruction, and he heard what they were saying; but he did not reply to their threats or their false accusations. He knew he had sinned, so why put up a feeble defense? But he also knew that his accusers were sinning and really had no cause for deposing him. But suppose he did win his defense and then fall again (v. 16)? His enemies would then have a stronger case against him. So, the wisest course was to remain silent. That being the case, he kept quiet and turned the matter over to the Lord. He followed the instructions he had given in Psalm 37.
In great detail, David described his "loathsome disease" (v. 7 kjv). This was not one isolated sickness but a collection of physical disorders that produced "searing pain" (niv), fever, and inflammation. He had festering wounds (v. 5) that smelled foul and looked ugly, his heart wasn't functioning properly, and his eyes were getting dim (v. 10). There was no health in his body (vv. 3, 7); one minute he was burning with fever, the next minute he was numb with cold (vv. 7–8). His body was feeble and twisted with pain, and he walked about all day like a man at a funeral (vv. 6, 8). At times, his pain was so severe, he cried out like a wild beast (v. 8). All this happened because he had been foolish and had sinned against the Lord (v. 5; 107:17). We are free to disobey the Lord, but we are not free to change the consequences.
We Can Focus on the Lord and Experience Sin's Forgiveness (vv. 15–22) For the third time, David addressed the Lord, but this time he got down to business and dealt with his sins. He hoped in (waited for) the Lord, knowing that God would hear his prayers. He wasn't praying only for his own deliverance just so he could be comfortable; he wanted God to work so the enemy couldn't use him as an excuse for sinning (vv. 16, 19–20; 25:2; 35:19). When they slandered David's name, they also slandered the Lord (see 2 Sam. 12:14), and David wanted to honor the Lord. He felt like he was about to die (v. 17), and he confessed his sins to the Lord in true repentance and faith.
We Can Focus on Others and Experience Sin's Loneliness (vv. 9–14) David opened the psalm with "Lord—Jehovah," and now he addressed God once more, this time as "Lord— Adonai—Master." He will use both names in verses 15 and 21–22. For a brief moment, he took his eyes off his own sufferings and looked to the Lord, knowing that God saw his heart and knew all his longings. God knows what we want, but He also knows what we need. Then why pray? Because God has commanded us to pray, and "you do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2 nkjv). Furthermore, as we pray, God works in our hearts to give us a clearer understanding of ourselves and of His will for us. Prayer isn't a theological concept to analyze and explain; it's a privilege to cherish and a blessing to claim.
What did David mean when he described his enemies as "lively" (v. 19)? He was contrasting his own condition with their condition: he was weak, they were strong; he was about to die, they were very much alive; he was sick, they were "vigorous" (nasb, niv). Confident that the Lord had forgiven him, he closed his prayer with three requests. Be with me (v. 21) is answered by Deuteronomy 4:31 and 31:6, 8, and Hebrews 13:5. Be near me (v. 21) finds its answer in 16:8, 34:18, and James 4:8. Be for me and help me (v. 22) leads us to 28:7, Isaiah 41:10, and Romans 8:33–39. These three requests cover just about everything!