Closer Day 13 | Psalm 38:1-12
Read:
O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! 2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, 6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning. 7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. 11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. 12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
Reflect:
Here David is crying out to God, sick and in pain. And as shocking as it may sound, this suffering is a result of David’s sin. Not only is he suffering in pain because of his sin, but he is also suffering under the weight of his guilt. He writes, “I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.” And to make things worse, this illness has isolated him from his friends and made him more vulnerable to his opponents. This is why he is crying out to God in brutal honesty.
How often in your pain and suffering are you brutally honest with God? How often do you cry out to God through times of agony? Or do you isolate yourself because guilt and shame has caused you to fear that God won’t listen? When pain and suffering surround us, and there seems like no reprieve, these are the very times that we should cry out to God. Our God, who loves us as sons and daughters, will allow discipline for our sin, but He still wants us to come to Him. I believe that’s why we have psalms like this. When we don’t know how to pray, and we don’t know what it means to cry out to God because of our guilt and shame, we can come to Psalm 38 and pray the psalm back to God. We can use it as a guide in our times of suffering, knowing that He hears us.
Prayer:
Lord, there are times when the only thing I can do is cry out to you. And sometimes, I’m not even sure what to say. But I know that although I am overwhelmed, you are listening. I bring you all my anxieties, all my worries, all my shame and lay them at your feet. I know on the cross you took it all so I could be free. Even though I don’t feel that freedom in my suffering now, I know and trust that you will ultimately bring healing and freedom. Help me, Lord. I am in pain and I need you!
This devotional is part of our Closer: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Our hope is that this will assist you in focusing your heart each day. To learn more or to get caught up, click here.