The Penitential Psalms

by JAS. MARTIN | Category: Meditations On The Psalms | Dec 1961

Psalm 38

This psalm (which please read) is a psalm of David, composed and written to bring certain matters to remembrance, or, as the R.V. margin states, " to make memorial" of such experiences.

The psalm opens, verse 1, with a prayer from a stricken man, and is followed by a long list of his sorrows and complaints, happily interrupted by the upward look of verse 9, the interjection of hope in verse 15, and the renewed petition of verses 21 and 22.

In this busy world "remembrance" is a precious casket. In seclusion we can lift the lid, and turn over the tokens that so eloquently, though silently, speak of the days gone by. The sweet Psalmist of Israel had a full casket. Perhaps late in life he opened it one day and poured forth this sad melody. At the time of his meditation he was grievously afflicted. "Remembrances " are lifted and laid down in quick succession. In verse 1 he prays, admitting rebuke and chastisement are necessary, but requesting therewith the tempered grace of the LORD. But the intolerable burden of affliction brought on by his own foolishness weighed heavily on him. The misery of verses 2-8 would almost fit that of a loathsome disease - no soundness of the flesh, no rest or health in the bones, putrefying and stinking wounds, burning heat in the loins, chilly cold and a crushed and disquieted heart. What a spiritual wreck foolishness makes of such a prince of men ! In verse 9 he lifts another jewel from the casket,. "Lord, all my desire is before Thee." He needs this upward look, for a throbbing heart and dimmed eyes and the loneliness of being forsaken by lovers and friends and kinsmen, and the subtle crafty attacks of his enemies, press out the dirge of verses 10-14. We pause here to give one thought to dark Golgotha's Cross. We see there the Prince of life and glory in all the agony of His sufferings, the Sin-bearer, with loved ones standing "afar-off," and we call upon our souls and all that is within us to bless our God for the One who was made sin for us.

Into the casket again dejected David must go, and another gem is produced. "For in Thee, 0 LORD, do I hope: Thou wilt answer.

O LORD my God."

But there is yet a virile source of sorrow, namely, his enemies, adversaries not for any personal hatred, but. because he follows "the thing that is good." The testimony must not suffer because of his foolishness, for they will magnify every slip, so he declares his iniquity, bravely, and shows sorrow for his sin. The sickness, loneliness and the slander of sin bring forth the renewed petition of verses 21, 22.

With such a "memorial" before our eyes, at this year-end let us take courage and betake ourselves to our God, in all our faults and failures, for He is the LORD of our salvation.

JAS. MARTIN | Dec 1961
Meditations On The Psalms