Today, Friday February 24
Experiencing Sin’s Loneliness
Psalm 38:9-14
“Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.”
This morning I am on a non-stop flight to Amman Jordan! I prerecorded our chat for today so that I would be able to post them before I leave. Thank you for your prayers as we lead this wonderful group of people on a spiritual journey these next 14 days to get more acquainted with the Lord and His Word!
Psalm 38 is indeed a very interesting Psalm as David is writing out of an anguished heart that is hurting as he is experiencing the chastening hand of the LORD for his sin. It might be good to mention that even though we are suffering from the consequences of our sins, if we are children of God, He is not chastening us because He is mad and angry at us, but because He loves us.
Read these verses in Hebrews 12:5-13 very carefully and thankfully!
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
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. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
We not only hurt ourselves when we sin, but we bring so much pain and suffering to those around us. We can also lose our witness and there is the loss of those who could have been won to Jesus that might now turn away because they have no respect for us. But in some ways if we humble ourselves, as David did and be willing to share the shame and pain we have experience because of our sin, the Lord might use that to bring many to Christ. God sure took the evil and consequences of David’s sin and turned it into good that we might be strengthened and encouraged by it.
So now in verse 9, after David has focused on himself and the experience of sin’s suffering, he briefly turns to the Lord and acknowledges that really all he desires is before Him! He knows that the Lord sees and hears his “sighing” and knows the loneliness of his heart. “The light of David’s eyes has gone out”. The brightness of his countenance is gone and you can see it in his downcast eyes.
The loneliness of sin begins to set in for David! No one wants to be around him in this condition. It is if he has leprosy. Even his close family and friends don’t want to be with him. His other relatives that were always there for him before, are not supportive and stay away from him (v.11). Then David’s enemies start coming out of the woodwork conniving deceitfully against him (v. 12). He is so dumbfounded that he can’t even speak to defend himself (vv. 13-14).
Yes, my friend, sin can bring loneliness into your life. It is not a place you want to be. But remember, David lives to write about it as a warning to us, and an encouragement to trust the Lord for his mercy and forgiveness.
God bless!
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