TURN TO THE LORD IN REPENTANCE

Passage: Psalm 38:1-22

Key verse: 21-22

NIV

Psalm 38[a]
A psalm of David. A petition.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
2 Your arrows(B) have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(C) in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones(D) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(E) me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.(F)

5 My wounds(G) fester and are loathsome(H)
    because of my sinful folly.(I)
6 I am bowed down(J) and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.(K)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(L)
    there is no health(M) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(N)
    I groan(O) in anguish of heart.(P)

9 All my longings(Q) lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing(R) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(S) my strength fails(T) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.(U)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(V)
    my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(W)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(X)
    all day long they scheme and lie.(Y)

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(Z)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(AA) for you;
    you will answer,(AB) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(AC)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(AD)

17 For I am about to fall,(AE)
    and my pain(AF) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(AG)
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(AH) without cause[b];
    those who hate me(AI) without reason(AJ) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(AK)
    lodge accusations(AL) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;(AM)
    do not be far(AN) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(AO) to help me,(AP)
    my Lord and my Savior.(AQ)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
  2. Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord

A Psalm of David, (A)for the memorial offering.

38 O Lord, (B)rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your (C)arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand (D)has come down on me.

3 There is (E)no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (F)bones
    because of my sin.
4 For my (G)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 (H)utterly bowed down and (I)prostrate;
    all the day I (J)go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is (K)no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
    I (L)groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
    my (M)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and (N)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (O)friends and companions (P)stand aloof from my (Q)plague,
    and my nearest kin (R)stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life (S)lay their snares;
    those who seek my hurt (T)speak of ruin
    and meditate (U)treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like (V)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 (W)rebukes.

15 But for (X)you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (Y)let them not rejoice over me,
    who (Z)boast against me when my (AA)foot slips!”

17 For I am (AB)ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (AC)confess my iniquity;
    I am (AD)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me (AE)wrongfully.
20 Those who (AF)render me evil for good
    (AG)accuse me because I (AH)follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not (AI)far from me!
22 (AJ)Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my (AK)salvation!

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

This psalm of David is a prayer for the LORD’s mercy and help. David was in grave trouble. His troubles were the result of his own sins. David felt the LORD’s anger and discipline upon his physical, mental, and emotional health as well as his relationships with other people. He confessed that his pain and physical sufferings (3, 7, 10) were God’s wrath on him because of his sin (3, 5, 18). He felt crushed. His heart was anguished. His sin had resulted in inner darkness (10).

David’s relationships had also suffered because of his sin. Friends and companions avoided him. Neighbors kept their distance. His enemies took advantage of his sin and even laid traps to kill him. They gossiped and lied about him. David’s own sin was the cause of his desperate situation.

This Psalm also shows us the only solution available for sin. David came to God in prayer in humble repentance. He confessed his iniquity (18). Though his sin had driven him away from God, David prayed that God would not forsake him but come quickly to help.

We, too, can turn to God in repentance for our sin. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, offers forgiveness and restoration. Come to Jesus. He will surely answer.

Prayer: Lord, I am troubled by my sin and confess it to you. Please come quickly to help me, my Savior.

One Word: Help me, Lord Jesus!