Psalm 38 - A Study Guide By Mark A. Copeland

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                         "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

               Psalm 38 - The Penitent Plea Of A Sick Man

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note the physical consequences that may often follow sin

2) To consider the connection David made between his illness and God's
   chastening for sin

SUMMARY

This is a penitential psalm, a prayer for deliverance from God's
chastening for his sins.  Physical ailments have come upon David because
of sin, which he perceived as God's righteous anger (3).  The impact of
the illness on his body was devastating (5-10).  It affected his
relationship with family and loved ones (11), while his enemies used it
as opportunity to plot against him (12,16,19-20).

The heading says "To Bring To Remembrance."  This may mean to remind God
of His mercy, as its preface here and in Psalm 70 both introduce pleas
for God to make haste in providing deliverance (cf. 22; 70:1,5).
Leupold suggests that Psalms 38 may have been written after Psalms 51
and 32, following the events surrounding David's sin with Bathsheba.
While forgiven of his sin, David was told he would still suffer
consequences (2Sa 12:10-14).  If David contracted a venereal disease
due to his sin (7), he may have viewed it as a form of chastening from
which he sought deliverance.  Whatever the nature of his illness, this
psalm is the penitent plea of a sick man who understood that he was
suffering because of his sin and God's anger.

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTORY PLEA FOR MERCY (38:1-2)

   A. THAT THE LORD NOT... (1)
      1. Rebuke him in His wrath
      2. Chasten him in His hot displeasure

   B. FOR THE LORD HAS... (2)
      1. Pierced him deeply with His arrows
      2. Pressed him down with His hand

I. THE WRETCHEDNESS OF HIS CONDITION (38:3-12)

   A. ILLNESS BECAUSE OF SIN AND GOD'S ANGER (3-10)
      1. Because of his foolish sin and God's anger...
         a. There is no soundness in his flesh, no health in his bones
         b. His iniquities are a heavy burden
         c. His wounds are foul and festering
      2. Description of his illness
         a. Troubled, bowed down greatly, mourning all day long
         b. Loins full of inflammation, no soundness in his flesh
         c. Feeble and broken, groaning because the turmoil of his heart
         d. Heart pants, strength fails him
         e. The light of his eyes has gone from him

   B. MISTREATMENT BY FRIENDS AND ENEMIES (11-12)
      1. Forsaken by those close to him
         a. Loved ones and friends stand aloof from his plague
         b. Relatives stand far off
      2. Plotted against by his enemies
         a. Those who seek his life lay snares
         b. Those who seek his hurt speak of destruction

II. THE BASIS FOR HIS HOPE THAT GOD WILL HEAR (38:13-20)

   A. OTHERWISE ENEMIES WILL REJOICE (13-16)
      1. His response to this abuse
         a. Like a deaf man he does not hear
         b. Like a mute he does not respond
      2. His hope is the Lord that He will hear
         a. Since his enemies will rejoice if he falls
         b. Since they will exalt themselves if he slips

   B. SORROW AND CONFESSION OF SIN (17-18)
      1. He is ready to fall, his sorrow continually before him
      2. He will declare his iniquity, be in anguish over his sin

   C. PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD (19-20)
      1. His enemies are strong, those who hate him wrongfully are
         multiplied
      2. They render evil for good, they are his adversaries because he
         follows what is good

CONCLUDING PLEA FOR HELP (38:21-22)

   A. TO NOT FORSAKE HIM NOR BE FAR FROM HIM (21)

   B. TO MAKE HASTE TO HELP HIM (22)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - Introductory plea for mercy (1-2)
   - The wretchedness of his condition (3-12)
   - The basis for his hope that God will hear (13-20)
   - Concluding plea for help (21-22)

2) For what does David plead?  Yet what has already occurred? (1-2)
   - For God not to rebuke or chasten him in His wrath
   - The Lord's arrows have pierced him; His hand pressed him down

3) To what two things does David attribute his poor condition? (3)
   - God's anger; his own sin

4) What does David acknowledge as the cause of his "heavy burden" and
   "wounds"? (4-5)
   - His iniquities; his foolishness

5) What two descriptive phrases may imply some sort of venereal disease?
   (6-7)
   - "I am bowed down greatly"
   - "For my loins are full of inflammation" (NKJV)

6) What other symptoms does David describe? (8-10)
   - He is feeble and severely broken; he groans because of the turmoil
     of his heart
   - His heart pants, his strength fails him
   - The light of his eyes has gone from him

7) What is said of his loved ones, friends, and relatives? (11)
   - They stand afar off

8) What about those who seek his life? (12)
   - They lay snares, speak of his destruction, plan deception

9) How does David respond to this mistreatment by others? (13-14)
   - He does not hear and does not respond

10) In whom does David put his trust? (15)
   - The LORD his God

11) Upon what three things does David base his plea to be heard? (16-20)
   - Lest his enemies rejoice and exalt themselves over him
   - His sorrow and confession of his sin
   - His persistence in doing good, while others render evil for good

12) What is David's concluding plea?  How does David view the LORD?
    (21-22)
   - For God not to forsake him or be far from him; for God to help him
   - As his God and his salvation
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