PSALM 38:15-22

Let us continue our study of Psalm 38 that I have called “The Psalm Of Remembrance”.  Have your Bible handy as we study verses 15-22.  I have called this section ‘The Remembrance Of David’s Travails’.  This section could be subtitled as a prayer or cry unto the Lord.

            Let us draw our attention to verses 15-17 that I have called ‘A Cry For An Audience’.  On two occasions David uses the word “O”.  It is a cry of desperation.  The cry is that the Lord “…wilt hear,” The word means to heed, pay attention, to give an ear to, or to give an audience.  Why is David so concerned that God hear his cry?  We are told in I John 5 that if He hears us we have the petition for which we have requested.  We find in verse 15 the two great truths of ‘hope’ and ‘trust’ expressed in this prayer. The word ‘hope’ means to wait patiently with confident expectation.  David’s trust is expressed in the phrase “my God”.  David reminds his God that if he doesn’t hear him he is going down which will give his enemies great occasion to rejoice that God’s people have fallen.  “Hope in God’s intervention, and trust in the power of prayer are two most blessed stays to the soul in a time of adversity.” (Spurgeon)

            In verse 17 we find that the convicting power of God has caused David to raise the white flag of surrender.  He says, “…I am ready to halt,” The word means a limp that causes one to fall.  He says his ‘sorrow’ is ever before him. The word means anguish, affliction, grief, and pain.  David has had enough of sin and he must have some relief.  O what a glad day when I had enough of sin.

            In verse 18 we find ‘A Cry Of Abasement’.  David tells in this verse that he will ‘declare’ his sin and his ‘sorrow’ for it.  The word declare means to tell by word of mouth, to stand boldly opposite and to announce publicly.  The word sorrow means to take thought, be anxious, afraid, and careful about sin.  Many ask when someone has done a ‘public sin’ when can they be restored to their original position.  It is often asked of a preacher who has had an affair but remains with his wife.  R. G. Lee said, “When his sorrow for his sin is as well known as his sin, he can preach again.” Let me remind you that a preacher who leaves his wife and starts another marriage and has two living wives will never have a biblical okay to continue to pastor a people.  “Until the Holy Ghost applies the precious blood of Jesus, a truly awakened sinner is covered with raw wounds which cannot be healed or bound nor anointed with ointment.” (Spurgeon)  In verses 19-20 we are confronted with ‘A Cry Of Acknowledgement’.  David testifies in verse 20 of his desire for only what is ‘good’.  The word means the best, beautiful, and godliest things.  Because of this desire David’s enemies have awakened with a greater hatred for him.  When we ride the fence and live in sin the world will be our friend, but when we turn toward living for God they will rend us with all their might.

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