Psalm 38

0A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.
1  O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,
  or discipline me in your wrath.
2  For your arrows have sunk into me,
  and your hand has come down on me.
3  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;
  they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5  My wounds grow foul and fester
  because of my foolishness;
6  I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
  all day long I go around mourning.
7  For my loins are filled with burning,
  and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8  I am utterly spent and crushed;
  I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9  O Lord, all my longing is known to you;
  my sighing is not hidden from you.
10  My heart throbs, my strength fails me;
  as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11  My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,
  and my neighbors stand far off.
12  Those who seek my life lay their snares;
  those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin,
  and meditate treachery all day long.
13  But I am like the deaf, I do not hear;
  like the mute, who cannot speak.
14  Truly, I am like one who does not hear,
  and in whose mouth is no retort.
15  But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait;
  it is you, O LORD my God, who will answer.
16  For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me,
  those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17  For I am ready to fall,
  and my pain is ever with me.
18  I confess my iniquity;
  I am sorry for my sin.
19  Those who are my foes without cause are mighty,
  and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20  Those who render me evil for good
  are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21  Do not forsake me, O LORD;
  O my God, do not be far from me;
22  make haste to help me,
  O Lord, my salvation.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 38:4)

When it comes to my sins, Lord, sometimes I fool myself into thinking I can keep afloat among them all by myself. If I only tread water well enough, I reason, I can keep my head above the muck. But then something happens, an unexpected temptation takes me by surprise and drags me under. Or a selfish desire weakens my resolve. Soon I realize that I am drowning in my sins and cannot save myself. Only You, Lord, can pull me out of the deep waters. Only You can set me down upon the solid ground of Your righteousness. So, today, may I live in reliance on Your strength, trusting You and finding in You a genuine freedom from sin.

Postscript

When I was about five years old I went to a duck pond with a friend and his family. While leaning over to feed the ducks, I fell in. I still remember the horror of feeling the water all around me, blurring my vision and entering my mouth and nose. Since I could not swim, I felt as if I were going to die. Yet, moments later, my friend's mother grabbed me by my arm, pulling me from my watery grave. I vividly remember the feeling of the water rushing away as I was drawn to safety, a sense of relief and security. How wonderful it is to be saved from the deep water, whether it's the water of a duck pond, or the muck of our sins.

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved