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/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} <![endif]–>Psalm 38, Part 3 of 3

Verses 15-22

15 I wait for you, O Lord;

you will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat

or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

17 For I am about to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;

those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20 Those who repay my good with evil

slander me when I pursue what is good.

21 O Lord, do not forsake me;

be not far from me, O my God.

22 Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my Savior.

David now is dismissing with the formalities, frustrations, and complaints as a result of his sin and now is actually addressing the real issue: the sin itself (before he was focusing on the consequences)

David’s Confession (verses 15-22)

He wasn’t praying only for his own deliverance just so he could be comfortable; he wanted God to work so the enemy couldn’t use him as an excuse for sinning (vv 16, 19-20).1



Is that your focus when you confess to God—not only for deliverance but also so that your witness before the world is preserved?



In verses 21-22 we see the ending of David’s contract reminder (from the first week: his petition):

21 O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.



He asks the Lord to remember him, be close to him and come quickly.



David’s petition was urgent. He begged the Lord (notice the all caps! David is using the covenant name of God) to remember him, be close to him, and help him because He was his God and Savior.2





When you sin (and you do and will), remember this Psalm. Pray this Psalm from an honest heart.





“Honest confession is good for the soul”

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1Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed. (Colorado Springs, Colo.: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 149.

2John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:823.