“Prayer of a Suffering Penitent”

Penitent: a person who repents their sins or wrongdoings and (in the Christian Church) seeks forgiveness from God.

We think that David wrote Psalm 38 while he was waiting for God to forgive him. David was very sad and very ill after Nathan came. David thought that this was because God was punishing him. What Psalm 38 means Verse 2:David wrote that God was like a soldier shooting arrows at him. The arrows were the bad things that God did to David. The dangers described in chapter 38 which threatened the very ongoing of God’s purposes for Israel are those which threaten to hinder the program of God through His church in our own day. And the same God who providentially overruled the sins of men to bring about the fulfillment of His purposes then is alive and well and unchanging this very hour. Nothing will disquiet the heart of a good man so much as the sense of God’s anger. The way to keep the heart quiet, is to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Psalm Chapter 38:1-22
LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Father God, I pray that You will create in me a forgiving heart towards all those that have hurt me so deeply. Seems to linger in my mind like a nightmare. Knowing that the Lord Jesus forgave me my sins, I confess that I too should forgive others, just as You forgave me all my sin. Thank You and praise You that in You I have victory against all my sin. Fill me with Your perfect peace, for You have promised to keep all in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. I thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.