Psalm 38:18-22 - May 2, 2009

Ps 38:18-22 "I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good. 21 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior." NIV

David’s writing is an insightful glimpse into a heart under pressure. It is very revealing to listen to his words as he laments both his own sin and the pain of persecution from those who are his enemies. “I am troubled by my sins…” this phrase is such a picture of the turmoil in David’s heart at this time. It is often said that the first step to receiving help is admission of your need. In Psalm 38 David is accepting the responsibility he has for his own condition. One great difference between David and his predecessor King Saul was their response to their own sinfulness. David was called a man after God’s own heart and Saul was rejected and lost the anointing. Why? Not because of David’s perfect life certainly. David’s list of failings and sinfulness is quite long as was King Saul’s but what is different is their responses to their sinfulness. Saul repeatedly justified his sins, hardened his heart towards God and people and blamed others for the problems for his actions. But David, even though he committed some very grievous sins, consistently humbled himself before the Lord when those sins were confronted or exposed. When the dealings of God touched his heart as a result of his transgressions he was able to accept the discipline of God with humility and surrender instead of rising in anger to resist the hand of divine correction.
In this passage David is again acknowledging his sinfulness before the Lord and recognizing that there may be a connection between the oppression of his enemies and his own sinful acts. In this realization David presents his requests for help within the context of cries of repentance. “Do not forsake me; do not be far from me…” These are the heart cry of a man who fears the loss of his intimacy with God because of his sin. Saul on the other hand became harder and harder as the dealings of God touched his life. He drove David into the wilderness, offered unclean sacrifice because he feared the people, and ended his reign as king by consulting a witch because he could no longer hear God. His mind was so confused in his unrepentance that he even asked the witch to help him to contact Samuel so that he could get a word from the Lord. Here he was breaking the command of God in pursuit of a word from God! What a conflict of actions!
The good news for us today is that God’s word to us in Deu. 31:6,8 “the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." We have this assurance repeated more assertively by Paul in Rom 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our sins may for a season block us from the enjoyment of God but we will never be abandoned! God is always there, reaching out to draw us back to himself. He extends cords of kindness towards his children through the grace that was purchased for us in Christ. Through Paul we are both made aware of this great gift of God and warned of neglecting such a gift when he writes in Rom 2:4 “do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” Grace is available to those who will humble themselves and turn from their sins. For those who will seek God’s face in repentance and turn from their sins a God of kindness is waiting to lead us back into His arms. Let nothing separate you from the joy of His presence. Know that He has kindness waiting for you as you turn your heart fully towards him.