Reacting to Suffering

DAVID saw his family torn apart by choices he had made (Psalm 38:11–12), even as his body was ravaged by sickness, possibly an acute skin disease (Psalm 38:3, 5, 7). Yet however serious his physical problems may have been, they were overshadowed by the pain of his troubled heart (Psalm 38:8, 10). Worst of all, he was unable to communicate his true thoughts and feelings (Psalm 38:13–14).

Have sin and its consequences created distance between the members of your family? Has someone been abandoned to suffering because of anger or disapproval by the others? Psalm 38 offers several insights for redeeming the situation.

First, the psalmist who cries out is willing to confess his own sin and foolishness (Psalm 38:3–5, 18). This is crucial in cases where someone’s sickness or suffering is the result of sin. That sin needs to be acknowledged, confessed, and repented of (compare James 5:13–16).

But the psalm offers hope in the certainty that God sees and hears, even if family members cannot or will not (Psalm 38:15). This hope in the Lord is available not only to the sufferer, but to innocent bystanders as well, such as parents, spouses, or children. By trusting in God’s goodness, they can see themselves no longer as victims but as victors.

Finally, Psalm 38 challenges all of us not to abandon anyone to silent suffering in sin and sickness. The psalm may express David’s predicament, but it also reminds us of the plight of everyone who has ever been brought low by their own foolishness. Rather than stand aloof from someone with the attitude, “You made your bed; now lie in it,” we can draw near with understanding and compassion. Psalm 38 can help us respond to the plea of a lonely sinner, “Remember me.”

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.