Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 38:1 and following. Indeed, the instruction of Ps. 37 seems to have been understood: The faithful no longer demand the entrenchment of the wicked, which has been expressly promised to him. Instead of getting irritated by those who do evil, he deeply feels his own sin (vs. 4-6). At the same time he realizes that he is in the hand of God who takes him back and chastises him. And it is he who he expects (v. 16). It is not for him to answer himself to those who persecute him; let alone revenge. “You will answer, Lord, my God!” Here we recognize the teachings of the New Testament: “Do not give back to anyone evil for evil…; do not avenge yourselves, beloved; … I will give back,” said the Lord” (Rom 12:9-21). The only answer we are entitled to give to the harm done to us is… the property; unlike these “enemies” (v. 20), those “adversaries” who “render evil for good” (v. 21). And their surprising pattern is revealed to us here: “… because I pursue what is good.” Jealousy, the perverse desire to suppress what in contrast emphasized their own wickedness, these are the awful feelings that led men to put to death the Holy and the righteous (John 10:27-33; 1 John 3:11-13).
For in this psalm, the repentant sinner experiences both the weight of God’s righteous wrath and the bitterness of being hated without cause by men (vs. 5:20, 21). This is what marks David’s suffering during the absalom revolt, because of his sin against God in the case of Uriah. He speaks like a leper driven out of the camp, an image of a sinner convinced of his state or of a saint under discipline. He is excluded as someone who is soiled and who defiles what he touches; but Jesus – and he alone – can come to us in this state. As a poor woman once said under the weight of her sins: “I am too bad for anyone other than Jesus.” And, as we know, this precious Savior, who was both “spotless” and yet “made sin,” allowed himself to be led like a lamb to the slaughter without opening his mouth (v. 14, Matt. 26:63; 27:12-14). He did not respond to the wicked who accused him, but in silence, in the inexpressible meditation of his mind, he surrendered to the One who judges justly. This is reflected in David’s behavior toward Shimhi (2 Sam. 16). He was alien to the feelings of Tseruja’s sons – his soul had no part in it.
This psalm can be read as expressing the feelings of the residue; for he will remember and take upon himself the sin that the nation has committed by shedding the blood of the Righteous, even though he himself did not participate in this crime (Zach. 12:10). Indeed, David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah represents in a sense Israel’s sin against Jesus: they shed innocent blood and made unclean covenants. The Jewish people cried out, “Crucify, crucify him,” along with, “We have no king but Caesar.” And on the other hand it can be said that, to an extent, the sufferings that David subsequently experienced at the hands of Absalom represent the sufferings of the residue on the part of his enemy, the iniquitous king; so that the same penitential psalms are both the expression of David’s feelings and the residue. Whether the “wobbling foot” in v. 17 refers to a calamity rather than a transgression is worth examining (Deut. 32:35; Ps. 94:18).
This is why Psalm 38 presents us with an admirable picture of the state of a soul: for the Spirit provides for everything, even where the righteous have failed and where he has been able to call upon himself some great punishment, for the joy of the wicked. But he who is right of heart accepts the punishment of his iniquity and openly places himself before God, confessing his sin, but trusting in Him to be delivered from the wicked. However sad such a case may be, nothing highlights the truth before God and trust in Him. How can one confess one’s sin and wait for God’s help, when one has been unfaithful, when one has dishonored him and the enemy rejoices in it? No excuse; no attempt to hide anything! The righteous confess everything and abandon himself in the hands of God.
On the basis of this assurance, they dare to appear in the presence of God and beg Him, as is His cause as well as theirs, that He maintain and defend it. There is no doubt that David, by his own example, prescribed this as a rule common to all the faithful, rather to incur the hatred and ill will of the world, than to a lesser extent to deviate from the path of duty, and without any hesitation in considering them as their enemies whom they know opposed to what is right and right.
In these concluding verses, David briefly states the main point he desired and the sum of all his prayer; namely, that while he was abandoned by men and gravely afflicted in every way, God would receive him and resurrect him. It uses three forms of expression; first, that God would not abandon him, or cease to take care of him; second, that he would not be far from him; and, thirdly, that he would hasten to help him. David was, in fact, convinced that God is always close to his servants, and that he does not delay a single moment more than necessary. But it is not at all wonderful that the saints, when they discharge their worries and sorrows into the bosom of God, make their requests in tongue according to the feeling of the flesh. They are not ashamed to confess their infirmity, nor to hide the doubts that arise in their minds. Although, however, the expectation was tiring for David according to the flesh, but in a word it clearly shows that he did not pray in uncertainty when he calls God his salvation, or the author of his salvation. Some give it back to my salvation, but it is forced. Rather, David erects it as a wall of defense against all the devices by which, as we have seen, his faith was assailed, so that no matter what happened, he was nevertheless well assured of his salvation in God.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Prayer of a sick person who acknowledges his faults:
- Divine discontent, because of sin
Nb 11:1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of assignment, on the first day of the second month, the second year after they left the land of Egypt. He says: Ps 60:3 O God! you have repelled us, scattered us, You have irritated yourself: lift us up! Isa 59:15 The truth is gone, and he who moves away from evil is robbed. -The Lord sees, with an indignant look, that there is no more righteousness. Mk 10:14 Jesus, seeing this, was outraged, and said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not prevent them from doing so; for the kingdom of God is for those who are like them.
- Divine disapproval, general references
Ps 9:6 You chastise the nations, you destroy the wicked, You erase their name forever and in perpetuity. Ps 119:21 You threaten the proud, those cursed, who stray far from your commandments. Isa 17:13 Nations rumble as the great waters rumble… He threatens them, and they flee into the distance, driven like the ball of the mountains to the breath of the wind, Like dust by a whirlwind. Luke 9:55 Jesus turned to them and rebuked them, saying, “You do not know with what spirit you are animated.
- Arrows of God, figuratively speaking
Ps 7:14 He directs murderous features at him, He makes his arrows burning. Ps 18:15 He threw his arrows and scattered my enemies, He multiplied the thunderbolts and routed them. Ps 77:18 The clouds poured water in torrents, Thunder sounded in the clouds, And your arrows flew from all sides. Ps 144.6 Make the lightning shine, and scatter my enemies! Throw your arrows, and route them!
- Divine help, God helps his people
Ps 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield; In him my heart trusts, and I am rescued; I have joy in my heart, and I praise it with my songs. Ps 40:18 I am poor and destitute; But the Lord thinks of me. You are my helper and my liberator: My God, do not delay Isa 41:10 The very one with whom I was at peace, Who trusted me and who ate my bread, Raise his heel against me. Hb 13:6 So we can confidently say: The Lord is my helper, I will fear nothing; What can a man do to me?
From all the above, we note that, in these details, the picture of the state of the residue would have been incomplete, as well as the teachings of grace for every soul at all times. Now, to what extent does the Spirit of Christ enter into this condition of which our Psalm is the expression? He enters it fully, although no doubt Christ himself could never have been there. The writer was obviously under the impression of some great punishment, and an openly manifested punishment. Such cases may occur in the middle of the residue, to their full extent. The principle, moreover, is universal application. In Christ, no doubt, there is nothing to discipline; but having before him sin in all its gravity, and encountering in his way all the afflictions that will fall upon the people, Christ can, while being “the green wood,” enter into the judgment that will come on “the dry wood” (Luke 23:31). For quoique “dry wood” is properly lifeless Israel, however, as the residue, which has long rejected Jesus, the Messiah, is first mixed with the nation, the faithful pass through in their souls and in spirit the afflictions that come upon the nation, except however for his final judgment on the part of God which was carried by Christ for them: he died for the nation. But, this final judgment aside, they go through everything, and feel more than ever the bitterness of pain and anguish, in the face of judgment, because they have the feeling of sin that brings it. This is why Christ, who knew the cause of this judgment which he had before him and which he had to go through (suffering oppression, without apparent deliverance, for the hour had come at which he was to be counted among the transgressors), was able to enter fully into their position; and although he entered into love, yet the justice that frightened Israel, was before him. He has not been able to say what is expressed here; but he can sympathize perfectly with those who must speak in this way: he has prepared for them the words which, through his Spirit, will be the expression in their hearts. If He had not carried all the anger for those same iniquities that weigh heavily on their consciences, and from the full rigor from which they escape, it would not have been simply governmental discipline that they would have had to ask for deliverance, and that is also why, when affliction has this character, Christ can do more than feel it, for in all the pains of which they are surrounded, he has taken the largest share. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” the oppressed faithful is consoled by thinking of the brevity of life (Ps 39).”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.