Psalm 38: Delight in Discipline

​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.
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;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
 
5 My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
6 I 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.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
 
9 O 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.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
    who boast against me when my foot slips!”
 
17 For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good
    accuse me because I follow after good.
 
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation!
 
 
Meditation
The steadfast love of our Fatherly sovereignly stewards difficulties for the discipline of His children. A heart fully trusting the Lord will delight in His discipline.
 
David’s enemies used his difficulties as “fake news” to remove him from power (12, 16, 19), but David attributes the Lord for his wounds (1-8, 17). We live in a fallen world, so not all difficulties are discipline. But God’s grace uses difficulties to discipline His children (Deuteronomy 8:5-6).  “The Lord disciplines those He loves” (Hebrews 12:6) and David knew the intimate love of God (21-22). 
 
This penitential psalm acknowledges the discipline of the Lord (1-2); understanding the reason for the discipline is sin (3-4). The burden belongs to God alone (5-8) as the lonely consequences belong to David (9-14). The invitation of Divine discipline is to hope in the Lord and His love (15-22), trusting Him for restoration.
 
God disciplines in rebuke for sin (Psalm 39:11) that life may be birthed in the believer (Proverbs 10:17). The Lord’s discipline is not punitive- Christ took the penalty for our sin on the cross. The discipline of the Lord is restorative, leading to a harvest of righteousness and peace (Hebrews 12:10-11). The discipline of the Lord comes from His love (Revelation 3:19) and believers should not despise the Lord for His discipline (Job 5:17-18).
 
Jesus is the fulness of this Psalm: afflicted to death (10), abandoned by friends (11), accused falsely by enemies (12) and unable to defend himself (14); so believers can know the discipline of the Lord is delight, a doorway for restoration.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading?
 
-Do you delight in the discipline of the Lord? Why or why not, and what does this reveal about your heart?
 
-Where do you need to embrace certain difficulties as the Lord’s discipline, His steadfast love shaping your soul for more faithful reflection of Him? What is He teaching you? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.