Psalm 38

This psalm belongs to Book One of the Psalms (Psalms 1–41). It follows Psalm 37, a wisdom psalm that teaches readers not to envy the prosperity of the wicked. Its superscription reads "A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance." Whereas Psalm 37 views the wicked and the righteous from a distance, this psalm is a prayer offered directly by one person in the midst of suffering.

Structure

• Verses 1–2 The psalmist asks God not to rebuke or chasten him in wrath and hot displeasure. He says that God's arrows and hand press hard upon him.
• Verses 3–8 He laments that because of his sin and foolishness there is no soundness in his flesh, and his wounds stink and are corrupt. Bowed down and weary, he groans.
• Verses 9–10 He confesses that all his desire and groaning lie open before the Lord. His heart pants, and even the light of his eyes has gone from him.
• Verses 11–12 His loved ones, friends, and kinsmen stand afar off. Meanwhile, those who seek his life lay snares and devise deceits.
• Verses 13–14 The psalmist makes no reply, like a deaf man and a mute.
• Verses 15–16 He hopes in the LORD and expects Him to answer. He fears that his enemies will rejoice when they see him fall.
• Verses 17–20 Ready to fall, he declares his iniquity and sorrows over his sin. His enemies are strong and many, and they render evil for good because he follows what is good.
• Verses 21–22 He calls upon God as "O Lord my salvation," asking Him not to forsake him, not to be far from him, and to make haste to help him.

Key Verses

• Psalm 38:1 "O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath" — the psalm opens with words almost identical to Psalm 6:1.
• Psalm 38:18 "For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin" — the central confession that leads readers to regard this as a penitential psalm.
• Psalm 38:22 "Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation" — the lament ends by calling upon the God of salvation.

People and Places

• David: The king of Israel named in the superscription. The text, however, does not indicate which event in David's life the psalm should be connected with.
• The LORD: The God of Israel, to whom the psalmist cries out.
• Friends, kinsmen, and enemies: Unnamed groups. The friends and kinsmen keep their distance from the psalmist, while the enemies seek to harm him.

Points for Reflection

• Church tradition has grouped this psalm with Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143 as the seven Penitential Psalms.
• The phrase "to bring to remembrance" in the superscription also appears in Psalm 70. Scholars differ on its precise meaning and use.
• The psalmist confesses that his illness is the consequence of his sin. Yet the book of Job and John 9:1–3 caution against attributing all suffering to the sufferer's own sin. The psalm is therefore often read alongside these texts so that its confession is not turned into a formula for suffering in general.
• Verse 11, where friends "stand afar off," is often read together with Luke 23:49, where Jesus' acquaintances stood afar off at the crucifixion. The psalmist's silence before his enemies in verses 13–14 is also sometimes meditated upon in connection with the silence of Jesus.

In the Korean Church

As one of the Penitential Psalms, it is sometimes used as a text for meditation and preaching during seasons that emphasize repentance, such as Lent and Holy Week. It is also at times cited as a prayer text for believers who are sick.