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PSALM

CHAPTER 38

1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Which child that truly belongs to God has not felt the chastening of God due to our sin? (Hebrews 12:6, Revelation 3:19)

David wrote this song "to bring to remembrance" the problems of sin.

First, there is the reminder of God's chastening. Let us indeed pray that God will not do so in "hot displeasur," but rather in lovingkindness. For even the mild chastening of our loving God is like "arrows" and the heavy hand of a Father.

When God's speaks to us concerning our sin it causes our hearts to know how "heavy" is the burden of sin (verse 4). It is a weight we cannot bear, and that Jesus alone must bear.

Sin, and the results of sin "stinks" (verse 5) and causes a corrupt feeling in the heart. Because of sin we feel a great "disquietness" (verse 8) in our hearts. That disquietness is because there is an absence of the right relationship with our Father. Though He never forsakes us, the relationship is greatly strained because of our sins.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

The song is also a reminder that there is a tremendous "desire" in our hearts for that right relationship with God (verse 9). When saved people sin, their hearts literally "panteth" (seeks after) God and His closeness.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They 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.

Remember also that sin even impairs our relationship with people, and causes the gossips to stir up talk about us.

13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Here is a reminder that what other people say is of no real value except for reproof, and that our only hope is in what God says. He promises to hear us when we confess our sins; and He promises to forgive us.

16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Therefore, we are reminded to call upon God for the forgiveness we need and the restoration of a right relationship with Him.

We must "declare" (verse 18) our sin before God and beg Him to put it aside, for without confession there is no true repentance.

19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

We are reminded that when we sin, our enemies have the upper hand upon our lives (verse 19).

And we are reminded that there are many who will "render evil for good" even when we try to do right in God's sight.

21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

And, Oh, how we need this reminder! We need the closeness of God in our lives (verse 21).

Let us in haste beg His forgiveness, that He might hasten to help us (verse 22). For God Himself is our salvation and there is no other.

CHAPTER 39

1 To the chief Musician, even to Je-du'-thun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

This song was given to "Jeduthun," a Levite who was responsible to for leading the choir in giving praise and thanks to God (1Chronicles 16:41).

David's main consideration here is the brevity of life. It is such a short time that we are given on this earth. And sometimes our question to God is, "How can we accomplish anything good and of lasting value in such a short time?"

We should indeed make the same commitment David made (verse 1), and not speak unwisely; especially when we are in view of the "wicked" (unsaved).

When we consider the brevity of life, then we should speak to no other but God. While "musing" (contemplating) on this thought, David's heart grew "hot" (verse 3) within him. His desire was to speak; therefore he brought his question before God Himself.

May God indeed remind us of the brief moment of time that He grants us (verse 4). We are but "frail" humans with only a few short years ("handbreadths" -- verse 5). Even at our best, the saved person is very briefly influential in the world.

We need this reminder in order to "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" that we have (Colossians 4:5).

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

When we realize that our lives are brief, then we also realize it is a vain effort to make a "big ado" about nothing or to work feverishly to gain riches.

Our only hope is in God! And HE is the reason for our lives. Therefore, we should be more concerned to give Him praise in the way we live.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. 10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

We are sinners all. And without sin no man is able to live. Were God to chasten us for ALL our sin, we would be constantly under His hand of reproach. This would make life even more brief.

Therefore, David pleads with God to "deliver" (save) from transgressions and to treat us in lovingkindness knowing our condition. And this is the way that God treats saved sinners.

God has set Jesus Christ as a "propitiation" for our sins. And He declares the saved person "righteous" in His sight. Then God treats that saved person in kindness, dealing gently with Him because of His sins. (See Romans 3:21-31)

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

It is sin that saps the strength of a person and shortens his lifespan (verse 13). It is because of sin that man is condemned to physically die. God does not desire that the sinner remain in a weakening physical state. That is why God, in lovingkindess, removed Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden when they sinned. He did not want them to eat also of the "Tree of Life" and remain in a sinful state forever.

Then God introduced the plan for man's salvation. By confessing sin and surrendering to Christ, a man can be restored to a right relationship with God. And then, one day, God will restore that person to an IMMORTAL state and he can live WITHOUT sin, and WITH God!

All our lives we are "sojourners" (travelers) through this world and estranged from God in a perfect relationship. It is impossible to have a "perfect" relationship with God while on this earth, because we are constantly sinners.

But our hope is in knowing that God has heard the sinner praying and begging for deliverance.

Yes. Life is brief. And life is uncertain - we do not know the number of our days. We do not have much time to bring influence upon mankind for God.

Let us work to influence this old world for Christ as much as we possibly can. And let us praise God and thank Him for salvation and for the eternity that we shall spend with Him.

Please continue in Bible Study with us.