NASB

Prayer of a Suffering Penitent.
A Psalm of David, for a memorial.



Note: This is one of the penitential psalms (see also Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, 143). The specific occasion in David’s life that prompted him to write this psalm is not given.




38:1 O Lord, rebuke [a form of judgment; we can and should learn the lessons God would have us to learn in such times] me not in Thy wrath [David asked God to temper His punishment];

And chasten [David was aware that he had done something deserving of rebuke and chastisement] me not in Thy burning anger [“As thy love is most sweet to my heart, so thy displeasure is most cutting to my conscience.” (The Treasury of David)].



38:2 For Thine arrows [represent conviction of sin; God’s judgements; God shoots these arrows at our sin and we feel them when they pierce’ cf. Job 6:4] have sunk deep into me [the conviction of God caused spiritual pain and grief],

And Thy hand has pressed down on me [an indication of God’s conviction and displeasure].



38:3 [see Ps. 32:3-4] There is no soundness [a consequence of sin] in my flesh [sin takes a physical as well as a spiritual toll] because of Thine indignation [David understood that he had displeased God];

There is no health [a consequence of sin; David found no rest or comfort because of his sin] in my bones because of my sin [David understood that his sin was the cause of his crisis; David took ownership of his sin; see Ps. 119:67; “Sin comes as a friend to entice you and then becomes a master to enslave you.” (Wiersbe)].



38:4 For my iniquities are gone over my head [David was in deep water, drowning in a sea of troubles; David found himself entangled in deep weeds after he strayed from the path];

As a heavy burden they weigh [cf. Heb. 12:1; weight pulls people down; some Roman authorities were known to have shackled the dead body of a victim to the convicted killer to carry the weight of his victim and eventually to smell the rotting flesh of his victim] too much for me [the crushing weight of his sin was more than he could bear].



38:5 My wounds [caused by sin] grow foul and fester.

Because of my folly [a synonym for his sin],



38:6 I am bent over [distorted and in pain] and greatly bowed down [a picture of the weight of depression; sin causes the upright to bend under the weight of guilt; the awareness of our sin should cause us to bow down with sorrow and shame and then to look up with hope];

I go mourning [clothed in black garments] all day long [without interruption].



38:7 [David’s sin impacted his physical health] For my loins [“the seat of strength” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)] are filled with burning;

And there is no soundness in my flesh [his entire being was in pain].



38:8 I am benumbed [feeble] and badly crushed [broken in spirit];

I groan [“His exhaustion left him only the power to groan.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)] because of the agitation [brought about by the deep sense his sins] of my heart.



38:9 Lord, all my desire [everything that David would ask; God knows the longings of our hearts; often after everything else has failed we finally look to God as a last resort] is before Thee [known by God];

And my sighing [expression of sorrow or anguish over sin] is not hidden [everything we do is done in God’s sight and known by Him; nothing is hidden from Him; we can never do anything behind God’s back] from Thee.



38:10 My heart throbs [an indication of anxiety and distress; to shake with fear or dread; runs about with no rest], my strength [physical and spiritual] fails me;

And the light of my eyes [our eyes reflect the condition of our heart; it is easy to lose sight of God and to lose perspective when we are struggling under the weight of our sin; weakness and weeping can also contribute to the dimming of our eyes; he had lost the sparkle in his eyes], even that has gone from me.



38:11 My loved ones and my friends [those dearest and nearest to us] stand aloof [unwilling to draw near to him, thus leaving him to suffer alone] from my plague [seen by others as someone stricken by God];

And my kinsmen stand afar off [David’s “plague” created distance between himself and others, leaving him alone and vulnerable to those who wanted to do him harm].



38:12 Those who seek my life [those who did not care about David’s welfare] lay snares [cf. Ps. 124:7] for me [David’s enemies were determined to destroy him; David’s enemies took advantage of he fact that he was weak, helpless, abandoned by friends, vulnerable];

And those who seek to injure me have threatened destruction,

And they devise treachery [contrive hurtful schemes; to speak malignity] all day long [constantly].



38:13 [David expressed how powerless he felt] But I, like a deaf man, do not hear [those who were seeking his life];

And I am like a dumb man who does not open his mouth [to speak to those seeking his life].



38:14 Yes, I am like a man who does not hear [David did not pay attention to what was being said against him],

And in whose mouth are no arguments [with which to defend himself; he longed for God to vindicate him].



38:15 For I hope [this was the reason he was patient and chose not to listen or speak to his enemies] in Thee [hope is renewed when we look to the Lord; David allowed his woes to point him toward God rather than away from Him], O LORD [translated from Yahweh (the covenant God of Israel)];

Thou wilt answer [the expectation of those who hope in the Lord], O Lord [translated from Adonai (God as Master)] my God [translated from Elohim (the plural word for God)].



38:16 For I said, “May they not rejoice over me [David’s enemies wanted nothing more than to rejoice because of his downfall; cf. Ps. 13:4-5],

Who, when my foot slips [David’s enemies wanted to see David slip], would magnify themselves against me [David’s enemies wanted to look down on him in triumph].”



38:17 For I am ready to fall [David was ready to give up in despair],

And my sorrow [over his sin] is continually before me.



38:18 For I confess [cf. Ps. 32:5; read Ps. 32:3-4 regarding what happens when we do not confess our sin] my iniquity;

I am full of anxiety [grief over his sin] because of my sin.



38:19 But [David was aware of the strength of those who hated him and hoped for his downfall and destruction] my enemies [as opposed to himself] are vigorous and strong;

And many are those who hate me wrongfully [without a cause; based on misinformation and misconceptions].



38:20 And those who repay evil for good,

They [David’s adversaries] oppose me, because I follow what is good.



38:21 Do not forsake me [the urgent cry of a hurting soul; cf. Ps. 27:9], O LORD;

O my God, do not be far from me [David did not want for his sin to keep him distanced from God]!



38:22 Make haste [those in imminent danger want help sooner than later] to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!