Forsake Me Not, O LORD

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Psalm 38:1-22. Psalm 38 is a Psalm of David. In this Psalm David is in much distress. David begs God not to rebuke him because of His wrath and great displeasure. What does David mean by this statement?

David’s sin had caused him great trouble and he felt God was angry with him. It seems that David was experiencing some kind of illness in his body as well. He says he is weak and feeble. He also speaks of having wounds on his body.

Even people who are like David, who was on very close terms with God, feel terrible when they sin against God. They have to deal with the guilt and shame of their sin, as all of us do. Not only do we have to deal with the guilt and shame of our sin, but we may have to deal with the physical consequences of our sin, as David did in this psalm. David’s sin doesn’t excuse us from our responsibility to try to live a godly life, but it shows us that none of us are perfect and even those who are closest to God will make mistakes in their life.

David doesn’t try to hide his condition from God, but confesses to Him everything he is going through and everything he is feeling. Don’t you find it funny that we sometimes try to hide our feelings from God knowing all the while that He knows everything about us?

David’s friends and family had deserted him. His enemies were seeking to destroy him. David confessed his sin to God and asked God to forgive him. David pleads to God not to forsake him. He begs God to help him speedily. Has there ever been a time in your life when you strayed from God and sinned against Him, yet when your sin caught up with you, you cried out for Him to give you mercy and come to your aid in a hurry? This is what David is doing in these Scriptures. What can we learn from David’s example? Even though sin never pays off and there are always consequences for our sins. God never leaves our side. We are the ones who sometimes walk far from Him.

Daily Bible Reading:

Psalm 38:1-22

1 [[A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.]] O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Things to think about:

• What was David’s concern in this psalm?
• What caused David’s situation?
• What did David do to try to resolve his situation?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Psalms. Even though it is kind of graphic in David’s description of his physical health, there are lessons we can learn from this Scripture. Help us to take these lessons and apply them to our own lives. Help us to realize that there are consequences for our sins. Help us to know that we need to confess our sins to You, turn from our sins, and ask for Your forgiveness. Be near to us, dear LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Excerpt from The Book of Psalms: Part 2 Chapters 31-60

Christian Music Video: “Not For A Moment” – Meredith Andrews

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Featured Book:

The Book of Psalms:
Part 2 Chapters 31-60
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Psalms: Part 2 Chapters 31-60 by Deborah H. Bateman is 27th book in the Daily Bible Reading Series. The book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. Deborah divided The Book of Psalms into five books to make it easier to read and study. Each book will contain approximately thirty chapters from the book of Psalms.

Psalm 119 will not be included in The Book of Psalms since Deborah has already published a book about it called: Psalm 119: Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet. The book of Psalms is one of Deborah’s favorite books of the Bible. It is a great book to read if you’re ever feeling down or need to renew your relationship with Christ. King David went through a lot of tough times in his lifetime, but he loved God and trusted God to protect him from his enemies.

The book of Psalms was written by various people. About half of it was attributed to King David, whether they were written by David or for David is questioned by some biblical scholars. Some of the Psalms were written by Asaph and some say they were written for the sons of Korah and even Moses and Solomon were writers of the Psalms. The Psalms consists of poetry that was primarily meant to be used as songs of praise to the Lord.

The Book of Psalms: Part 2 Chapters 31-60 contains thirty-five Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individuals or group studies.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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