Psalm 38 - Part 1

Introduction:

This is the third of the so-called penitential Psalms (Pss. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).

Thesis:

It is a good exercise for God’s people to remember the ways in which the Lord has chastened them for their sins and how their sins have caused them distress (Calvin, II, 53).

Lessons:

• The godly should never act as though the Lord has chastened them beyond what their sins deserve (v. 3-4).

• When the ungodly are convinced of their sins, they cry out against God; when the godly are convinced of their sins, they cry out against themselves to God.

• No sorrow is comparable to the sorrow that sin causes in a repentant heart (v. 5-10).

• When we find no consolation from family and friends, let us turn to the Father of all comforts alone (v. 11-12; 2 Cor. 1:2-4).

• We should not take the taunts of our enemies to heart, but we should instead commit our souls in silence to our God (v. 13-14).

• We cannot subdue our own passions in our distress if we give up our hope in God (v. 15. Calvin, 66).

• The godly can simultaneously suffer for their own sins and for following what is good (v. 18-19).