DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 38 David confesses his sin and pleads for forgiveness and for relief from his emotional and physical suffering. It is one of seven Penitential Psalms or Psalms of Confession (see below for a list). The occasion may have been David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). In the painting above, Jerome contemplates the ultimate wages of sin -- death.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 12:1-25. Penitential Psalms: Psalm 6. Psalm 32. Psalm 38. Psalm 51. Psalm 102. Psalm 130. Psalm 143. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm - #1. Psalm - #2. Psalm - #3. Psalm - #4. Psalm - #5. Psalm - #6. ]

     In this Psalm of repentance David alternates prayers for help with descriptions of the afflictions which he was enduring because of his sin. His first prayer is a request that the LORD would not rebuke him in his wrath or chasten in him his hot displeasure (1). He then compares his affliction to being pierced by God's arrows and pressed by his hand. He said that there was no soundness in his flesh or in his bones because of God's anger. He was submerged in his iniquities. They were like an unbearable burden. His wounds stank and were corrupt because of his foolishness. He was troubled, bowed down, mournful, diseased, unsound, feeble, broken, and his disquieted heart caused him to roar loud loudly (2-8). He pauses in his complaint to offer a brief prayer, telling God that all of his desire is before him; and all of his groaning is known to him (9). Then, returning to his complaint, he says that his heart pants; his strength fails; and the light of his eyes is gone. Moreover, his lovers, friends, and kinsmen stood aloof from him. And those who sought his life laid traps for him and planned deceits all day long. But David, (at first), heard nothing about these plots; and he was thus unable to reply against them (10-14). Here, David interjects another prayer, telling the LORD that he hoped in him and expressing his confidence that the Lord would hear him (15). David then returns to his complaint, stating that unless the LORD heard him he would be overthrown. He was ready to fall. His sorrow was constant. He declared his iniquity and was sorry for his sin. But his enemies were lively, strong, and plentiful. They also returned evil for good to David (16-20). So David closes with a prayer asking God to not forsake him and to not be far from him. He asks God to make haste to help him (21-22).

O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

² For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
³ There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
⁴ For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
⁵ My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
⁶ I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
⁷ For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
⁸ I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

⁹ Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

¹⁰ My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
¹¹ My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
¹² They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
¹³ But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
¹⁴ Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

¹⁵ For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

¹⁶ For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
¹⁷ For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
¹⁸ For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
¹⁹ But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
²⁰ They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

²¹ Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
²² Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

¹ To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun [Transposed From Psalm 39:1 ] *

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]