Psalm 38

“For my iniquities have gone over my head. Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” (Psalm 38:4, NKJV)

David was under the chastening hand of the LORD. We don’t know what he did; we only know that he felt the weight of his sins and was worried about God’s wrath. His iniquities were over his head, meaning that he was drowning in them. In addition, his enemies multiplied along with their destructive words. Only God was his refuge, but he also felt like God was against him. Truly, this was a long, dark night for David’s soul.

And yet there is a soul work that only occurs during such times of affliction. God works in the night as well as in the day. And He uses people as His rod of discipline. Recently, I heard a quote that your friends will take you as far as your potential, but your enemies will take you beyond that. God uses circumstances and people to purge us of our hidden sins and to change our priorities. Behind His hand of discipline is a heart of love.

Consider these words from the author of Hebrews:

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11, NKJV)

We are less righteous than we think. We tend to magnify our strengths and close our eyes to our weaknesses. Therefore, God must hold the mirror to us to show us who we really are. We see the sins in us that grieve the Holy Spirit and hurt others. This experience is not pleasant, but painful. Yet it is so necessary if we would walk in the righteousness of Christ.

David ends this psalm on a hopeful note:

“Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!” (Psalm 38:21–22, NKJV)

In the end, the One who disciplines us is also the One who saves us. Even in judgment He remembers mercy. His plans are never to harm us, but to give us a future. Therefore, the best we can do is to humble ourselves beneath His mighty hand, trust in Him with all our hearts, and call upon His name for mercy and salvation.

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NKJV)