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Psalm 38
One night when I was thinking I needed some encouragement, I opened my
Bible and came across the 38th psalm. It occurred to me how
much of the Bible is bad news or is written out of hard times. The
prophets bring good news, but it is often tacked on after the bad news.
The truth seems to be that when times are routinely good, men have little
to say. There was no reason for God to send a prophet and tell us how good
we are doing when all we are doing is what we are supposed to do. Thus,
when a prophet does show up, it is almost always because of our failures.
This psalm is a real classic of depression. David is sick with a
disease that makes even his best friends stand apart. It almost sounds
like he has a sexually transmitted disease. It is in his loins, it is a
sore, and it is a result of sin. But the cure for David’s depression is
repentance: "I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."
One of the curious and sad things I have seen about people is that it
is very hard for them to say those three magic little words, "I am sorry."
I have learned that is much, much easier to say "I’m sorry" than to
continue to maintain the struggle for my own righteousness. Those words,
spoken from the heart, work well with God and man.
(Psalms 38 KJV) "A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. 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."
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The
Sinless Life
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considered what it would mean if you could just live a sinless life?
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