THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - September 5, 2014 – Day 38 - Psalm 38

My sin makes me sick. David’s did too. Psalm 38 is called a penitential psalm for in it is a confession of sin. Many Christians want to deny that sometimes an illness can be a direct result of our sin. Though certainly not all sickness is caused by a specific sin, though indirectly all sickness derives from sin because it is a result of the fall in Genesis, David clearly attributes this sickness to his own sin and clearly understands that sickness can used by God to bring discipline. And he cries out to God in prayer for healing in response to his confession.

Psalm 38:1-8
“O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.”

Take notice of some of the possible consequences of our sin.

1. Our health can be taken from us.

“There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.”(v3).

2. We can be overwhelmed with a heavy feeling of burden.

“For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.”(v4).

3. Our wounds can stink and fester up in infection.

“My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness…”(v5).

4. Depression will weigh us down.

“I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.”(v6-8).

5. Our heart can be overtaxed and our strength be sapped away. Even our eyesight can be affected.

“My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.”(v10).

6. No one will want to be around us in our sad state.

“My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.”(v11)

7. Our enemies will be empowered against us in our weak state.

“Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.”(v12).

But even in our sinful mess of a life we have made for ourselves there is hope. David knew that but he also knew we must wait on the Lord.

“But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”(v15).

David knew the answer. So do we. It is found in 1 John 1:9 which tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.”(v18).

Like David we must cry out to God as in verses 21-22 of this Psalm.

“Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”

Cry out to Jesus. He is the great physician. He said it Himself in Mark 2:17, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

I don’t know about the rest of you but I am in need of the great physician. For my sin makes me sick