How do you feel about sin? You may be tempted to answer, “I feel guilty” or “I am filled with remorse.” Certainly, we should feel badly or negatively about the fact that we have been lured into Satan’s snare. Reading Psalm 38 gives a peek into how David felt. Though he does not actually name the sin, his confession reveals that he asks for mercy and help from God because of the terrible sickness, loneliness, and isolation he feels because of sin.
More than a psalm, the words in Psalm 38 are more a lament or a prayer. P.C. Craigie says, “Psalm 38 is a prayer … evoked by the experience of sickness and the consequent sense of alienation from both God and fellow human beings.”
Responsibility for Sin
Let’s look at some verses of the Psalm and notice how David must feel about sin.
David begins by pleading with God not to continue to rebuke him in anger (Psalm 38:1). It is the same way that Psalm 6 begins. He sees the physical and emotional problems that he goes through as either caused by God or at least allowed by God. David is begging for mercy (note Psalm 6:2). Mercy is not getting what you deserve. David understands that he deserves everything that he feels and gets, but he asks God to give mercy.
When we go before God feeling the consequences of sin, we first need to admit that we deserve punishment because of sin. On the surface, we act as if our sins are not that bad, or that we don’t sin very often. David understands the nature and depth of his sin. He accepts full responsibility.
Notice David says, “I am deprived of my health because of my sin” (Psalm 38:3). In verse 5, David adds “because of my foolish sins.” When we are in the midst of sinning, the path seems like the answer. We can escape the stresses of the world. We can pursue pleasure in the way we choose. When the dust settles – and eventually it will – the pursuit and the sin have been nothing but foolish. Look at the cost of our sin.
It is interesting that the psalmist uses the word “overwhelm” to describe what sin does to him. Sin after sin places amazing weight on our shoulders. It damages all of those around us.
How We Should Feel About Sin
How do you feel about sin? Notice some of the powerful words that David uses.
- Humiliated (Psalm 38:6)
- Shame (Psalm 38:7)
- Numb (Psalm 38:8)
- Anxiety (Psalm 38:8)
- Heart beats quickly (Psalm 38:10)
- Friends distance themselves (Psalm 38:11)
- Words used against him are destructive and deceitful (Psalm 38:12)
- Incapable of trying to argue to defend himself (Psalm 38:14)
Two Actions to Take
David gives two specific things that we should do – but neither of them are easy. First, David says we must wait for the Lord (Psalm 38:15). We tend to be impatient, wanting our circumstances and our feelings to change. Waiting on God to redeem and restore is not an easy thing to do.
The second thing David suggests that we do is equally difficult – and one that we do not completely understand. He says it is vital that we confess our sins. Our “image” of confession probably takes us to a private meeting with a priest. We will talk about confession in more detail on Friday.
As we continue our journey through the season of Lent on the way to the resurrection of Easter, how do you feel about sin?