Psummer of Psalms: Psalm 38

Main Point: God will not forsake those who confess their sin, for He remembers His covenant

Text: Psalm 38

Outline:

A) A tumultuous burden of sin (vv. 1–8)

B) A failure of strength (vv. 9–14)

C) God will answer confession and repentance (vv. 15–22)

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

[1] O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

[2] For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

[3] There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

[4] For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

[5] My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

[6] I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

[7] For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

[8] I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

[9] O Lord, all my longing is before you;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

[10] My heart throbs; my strength fails me,

and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

[11] My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,

and my nearest kin stand far off.

[12] Those who seek my life lay their snares;

those who seek my hurt speak of ruin

and meditate treachery all day long.

[13] But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,

like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

[14] I have become like a man who does not hear,

and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

[15] But for you, O LORD, do I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

[16] For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,

who boast against me when my foot slips!”

[17] For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever before me.

[18] I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin.

[19] But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,

and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

[20] Those who render me evil for good

accuse me because I follow after good.

[21] Do not forsake me, O LORD!

O my God, be not far from me!

[22] Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation! (ESV)

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun.