{"id":1078,"date":"2012-05-09T05:29:54","date_gmt":"2012-05-09T12:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teach4god.com\/OTS\/?p=1078"},"modified":"2014-04-02T05:24:22","modified_gmt":"2014-04-02T12:24:22","slug":"psalm-38","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/2012\/05\/09\/psalm-38\/","title":{"rendered":"Psalm 38"},"content":{"rendered":"

Psalm 38<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Although this psalm has twenty-two verses, it is not an acrostic<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0like Psalm 37 (see our study yet to come). The inscription tells us David wrote this psalm. Many argue with this because the biblical account does not contain a sickness of David like this. This thought implies that everything that happened to David was written\u00a0in the Bible, which is absurd. The inscription also states that this psalm is for the memorial offering (NRSV), which implies it is used\u00a0as part of the service. The NASB\u00a0does not include the word “offering,” which would mean it is used to remember what has happened and to learn from it (<\/span>Psalm 70 contains the same inscription<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). It is also the third in the <\/span>penitential type psalms<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. These are written for our benefit that we may know how to pray in repentance and in hope due to our sin. This psalm is normally read in higher churches on Ash Wednesday in preparation for the time of Easter. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This psalm is reminiscent of the book of Job wherein Job suffers, though not due to sin, and is mistreated\u00a0by his friends, then turns to his only Hope, God. Verses 9, 15, and 21 gives us this hope too. In spite of our sin, we can still pursue God but only in repentance will He be found (see the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.11-31<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n