“Welcome to Torah Today Ministries, our continuing series, Tehillim Talks, our studies in the Psalms. And in this episode, we find ourselves in Psalm 38. It’s not a very happy Psalm.
In fact, Psalm 38 is the first of a quartet of Psalms—38, 39, 40, and 41—which need to be read together as a unit. Now let me explain why this is. I’m going to begin with a question.
Have you ever in your life, as I have, experienced God’s anger, His severe disappointment in you? You did something really stupid. You really messed up.
And not only do you sense that God is distant, but you almost feel like He’s not coming back anytime soon. At least He’s not going to allow His presence to be felt anytime soon.
And in addition to that, you’re suffering—maybe suffering illness or loss of a relationship or financial loss, or any combination of the above and other things.
But you know you’ve messed up. You know you’re getting what you deserve, and you’re just heartbroken because not only have you hurt other people, but you’ve hurt your Father in heaven.
Well, tradition teaches that David composed Psalm 38, 39, 40, and 41 after his sin with Bathsheba—probably the lowest moment in his entire life.”
“When he had brought upon his house and upon himself and upon his unborn child and upon his friends, his family, these horrible things, he brought disaster. He brought some lasting damage.
And he, according to tradition again, composed these four Psalms.
And Jewish tradition also teaches that these four Psalms describe Israel’s spiritual illness.
But whatever the case, David is at a very low point.
But if you find yourself at a low point and you find yourself experiencing illness, fear, guilt, helplessness, loneliness, betrayal, danger, pain, depression, despair, I believe that God inspired David to compose these four Psalms for you at a moment like this.”
“Now, David calls this Psalm a song, mizmor מִזְמוֹר (mizmor), and though this is normally translated as Psalm, mizmor really means a song.
And when you read this Psalm, you’d think it should be a dirge—it should be a lament—but it’s called a song.
It’s called a song for remembrance.
Because when we are at the very lowest, when we are in the pits, we need to remember that though we fail, God’s love does not.
Though we may break our covenant with Him, He does not break His covenant with us.
And though He may discipline us—because after all, this is what a father does if he truly loves his child—He does discipline because He loves.
I want to share a quote with you from a rabbi known as the Kotskor Rebbe:
‘If an adult caresses a child, it does not indicate that the adult is his father.
But if he slaps the youngster, you can be sure he is the father.
Similarly, the divine retribution inflicted with the destruction of the Temple was an indication of our Father’s love for us.
For this reason, the month is called Av.’”
“And what the Rebbe is referring to here—the greatest discipline that God brought to the Jewish people—was the loss of their Temple, twice.
And in both cases, the loss of their Temple happened in the month of Av אָב (Av).
And Av is the word for father.
And so as he says, if you see an adult embrace a child, he may or may not be the parent of that child.
But if he slaps the child and disciplines the child, you know that he is the parent.
And so if God is disciplining you right now, remember—it’s proof that He is your Father.”
“Now, David has really messed up. And we can see this in the very first verse as it’s worded in the Hebrew.
He says, Adonai, rebuke me not in your Af—and in this case, the word is ‘wrath.’
Now this phrase, Adonai, rebuke me not, is found twice in the Bible—both times in Psalms.
The first time is back in Psalm 6:1, and then the second time here in Psalm 38:1.
But the word used here, rebuke me not in your Af, and then the word that comes next is different.
Back in Psalm 6:1, it’s Adonai, rebuke me not in your af אַף (af).
Af is a word for nose, and when someone’s nose grows short, it’s like their nostrils are flaring—they’re starting to fume.
That’s not the word used here.
This time he says, Adonai, rebuke me not in your ketzef קֶצֶף (ketzef), which means ‘your wrath’ (Psalm 38:1).
God isn’t just fuming. He’s not just angry. He is really, really angry.”
“Now, God is nowhere in the Bible called an angry God. In fact, He is called a happy God, and I believe it’s in Romans that Paul refers to Him as the blessed God.
The word for blessed there is the word for happy.
But though He’s never called an angry God, He is a God who is capable of anger.
What loving person isn’t capable of anger?
And the only thing that makes God angry is when He sees us doing things that bring harm to those He loves—whether that person is yourself or others.
And when people are harming people that God loves, how could He not be angry?
But we’re told that His anger endures but for a moment (Psalm 30:5).
And yet that moment can seem like an eternity when you’re in the middle of it.”
“So David has really messed up here, and he’s ill because of it. So let’s get right into the Psalm.
Adonai, rebuke me not in your wrath, nor discipline me in your heat or your fury, your chema חֵמָה (chema); for your arrows have come down on me and your hand has come down on me. (Psalm 38:1–2)
There is no shalom שָׁלוֹם (shalom) in my flesh because of your indignation, no peace in my bones because of my sin.(Psalm 38:3)
Now, when a man refers to his bones, that can also be an allusion to his wife—that’s just a Hebrew idiom.
Whether that’s how David intends it here or not, I don’t know.
But I know that when we suffer, our spouses also suffer.”
“There is no peace in my flesh because of your indignation, no peace in my bones because of my sin.
So I think we can see here there is definitely disease that David is experiencing.
For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalm 38:4)
When he says they’ve gone over my head, the language is like I’m a drowning man. I can’t get any air.
And what is he drowning in? His iniquities are like waves going over his head. He feels like he’s just drowning and cannot catch his breath.
My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness. (Psalm 38:5)
In other words, I’m suffering out of my own fault, not because of anybody else.
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. (Psalm 38:6)
This guy is depressed. He is in the depths of depression.”
“For my sides are filled with burning, and there’s no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed; I roar because of the groaning of my heart.” (Psalm 38:7–8)
The groaning of the heart is an expression of despair. He just can hardly see any hope at all.
But as we go to verse 9, he calls God his Master.
When David does this, he’s saying, I’m not addressing you as a Father right now, not even as my God, but as a Master addressed by His servant.
Just look at me as a servant who failed to obey you. I didn’t do what you asked. I messed up. Have mercy on me and give me another chance.
Master, all my longing is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me; and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. (Psalm 38:9–10)”
“My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.” (Psalm 38:11)
He’s lonely—he’s experiencing loneliness.
“Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.”(Psalm 38:12)
So his enemies, they’re rejoicing, and he’s in a place of real danger. They see him as like a wounded lion: ‘This is our chance to attack!’
“But I am like a deaf man—I do not hear; like a mute man who does not open his mouth.” (Psalm 38:13)
In other words, these things are going on, but I don’t even have the energy to cry out. Let them do to me what they want and put me out of this misery.
“I have become like a man who does not hear and in whose mouth are no rebukes.” (Psalm 38:14)”
“It’s just a helplessness.
I’m not in a position to tell them that what they’re doing to me is wrong.
They want to murder me? Let them murder me.
If they want to speak evil against me and falsehoods, I don’t care. I deserve them.
This is a low, low, low point in David’s life.
But I thank God that God inspired him to describe it in a way that only David could.
Because there’s probably a time—if you haven’t experienced it yet, you probably will—that these words can become yours.
For in you, Adonai, I have hoped. (Psalm 38:15)
Now that word for hoped is not the typical word for hope like tikvah תִּקְוָה (tikvah) but yachal יָחַל (yachal),
which first appears in Genesis 8:10 when Noah took the dove and let it go from the ark, and it says he yachal — he waited.
He didn’t know if the dove would come back with the olive branch or not. He had no idea what would happen, but he just waited—expectantly.”
“For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
But the enemies of my life are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
Do not forsake me, O Adonai; O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Master of my Yeshua יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah), my salvation.” (Psalm 38:17–22)
Because even his own rebellion, his sin, his failings are not too big for God.
The enemy whispers: “Your sin is too great—God can’t help you.” But David knew that wasn’t true.”
“You need to know that that is not true.
When we say such things—that our sin is too great for God’s salvation—that’s our own pride talking.
Who are you to think your sin is so great that the redemption of Yeshua can’t cover it?
God’s not threatened by your sin.
Your sin is not so big that His grace won’t cover it.
So don’t believe the lie that you’re worse than anybody else.
The chief of sinners, Scripture tells us, was Paul—and yet look what God did with him.
So if God can do that with the chief of sinners, He can do big things with you and me as well.”
“He foresaw your sin and failings before you were even born, and He brought you into existence anyway, because you are a good idea.
You were worth bringing into the world.
He knows the world needs you.
He’s not done with you yet.
So get over yourself, quit amplifying your sin, and begin to express your hope in God that He’s not done with you yet.
If your sin crushes you and breaks you—then praise God.
He’s making you more usable in this world for His glory, for your reward, and for tikkun olam תיקון עולם (the repair of the world).
So again, let’s look at the list of ten things that this Psalm expresses.
And if you have any one—or all ten—this Psalm is for you.
But remember: go on and read Psalm 39, 40, and 41.
Because when you reach the end of these four, you’ll see such an amazing picture of God’s redemptive power in our lives.
So until then, I wish you shalom שָׁלוֹם, and may God bless.”
Links
A Song of David, for rememberance
1-8 Adonai, rebuke me not in Your wrath, nor discipline me in Your heat/fury! 2 For Your arrows have come down on me, and Your hand has come down on me. 3 There is no peace in my flesh because of Your indignation, no peace in my bones because of my sin. [Disease] 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. [Guilt] 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. [Depression] 7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. [Pain] 8 I am feeble and crushed. I roar because of the groaning of my heart. [Despair]
9-14 Master, all my longing is before You and my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart throbs [Fear], 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. [Lonliness] 12 Those who seek my life lay their snares. [Danger] Those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. [Betrayal] 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. [Helplessness]
15-22 For in You, Adonai, I have hoped. It is You, O Master 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 the enemies of my life 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 Adonai! O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Master of my salvation!
REFERENCES:
Verse 1
Psalm 6:1 Adonai, rebuke me not in Your anger (אף, aph), nor discipline me in your heat/fury (חמה, chemah).
Psalm 38:1 Adonai, rebuke me not in Your wrath (קצף, ketzeph), nor discipline me in your heat/fury (חמה, chemah).
Verse 15
Genesis 8:10 He waited (יחל, yachal) another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.
Genesis 8:12 Then he waited (יחל, yachal) another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.
Verse 19
Psalm 35:19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
“Instead of wondering why God is causing us to suffer, we need to ask what we are meant to do with that suffering.” – Rivka Segal
If an adult caresses a child, it does not indicate that the adult is his father; but if he slaps the youngster, you can be sure he is the father. Similarly, the Divine retribution inflicted with the destruction of the Temple was an indication of our Father’s love for us. For this reason, the month is called Av. – The Kotzker Rebbe