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Psalm 38:1-8, 17 – 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. For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A TRUE FIGHTING FAITH. Sit down, maybe even now, and read Psalm 38. If we got an email from David or phone call and he describes what is going on in his life by telling us Psalm 38, we would probably drop everything and run to our spiritual brother’s side. That’s how the body of Christ responds to fellow members suffering. When we get wind of a hurting brother or sister, the right thing to do is “stop the presses in our lives” and either get to their side to help them (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) or get to our knees and plead for the Good Shepherd to soothe His hurting sheep. A strange thing will happen when we meet up with a hurting David. As down as he is, and he is pretty low, we are going to learn a lot from him about a true fighting faith.
Have we seen and felt our sin lately? Not in a shallow way. I mean in a Psalm 38 way. If we want to get close to Jesus, real close to Jesus, and experience His love and grace, we need a view of sin like what David experienced in Psalm 38. Remember, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7:47). David’s view of his sin produced quite a wide range of spiritual experiences. He felt God was angry with him (Psalm 38:2-3). He felt overwhelmed with his sin as if drowning or being crushed by a heavy weight (Psalm 38:4). His heart ached with a stomach so upset that I am sure an invitation for dinner would be refused with, “Thanks, but I don’t have much of an appetite.” And to top all that spiritual pain, was as inward agony making him feel ready to give up on everything (Psalm 38:17). Yet, as thoroughly exposed, humbled, and given a view of what he truly was before a holy God, David still exercised faith in a holy God who loved Him. Despair over what he saw in his heart? I see how easily that could occur, but not David. He exercised a true fighting faith in the God who shows our sin to heal us from our sin. God will use our sin to show us our sin to keep us from sin.
In verse 15, there are three lessons about a true fighting faith. First, when we see our sinfulness, don’t despair, but continue to pray – “But for you, O Lord” – David didn’t give up seeking God despite what he saw of himself. The second lesson is wait on the Lord to come with healing grace – “But for you, O Lord, do I wait” – the mercy of forgiveness is for those who fight by faith not flee in despair. Finally, exercise confidence in the Lord despite what we feel and know about ourselves – “It is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” – this is tough, real tough when we see our hearts and lives for what they really are, but remember, He delights in showing mercy and will reward those who exercise a true fighting faith with such mercy.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me bring my ever changing emotions under Your loving control.”
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