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Lutheran reading notes

In Psalms chapter 38, the wisdom literature continues to explore prayer, worship, lament, praise, and trust in God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.

Theme: Wisdom, prayer, and faithful living Key people: Wise figures Key place: Israel Liturgical use: Wisdom lections
1 [A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.] O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Psalms 38:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
Psalms 38:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3 {There is} no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither {is there any} rest in my bones because of my sin. {rest: Heb. peace, or, health}
Psalms 38:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Psalms 38:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5 My wounds stink {and} are corrupt because of my foolishness.
Psalms 38:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. {troubled: Heb. wried}
Psalms 38:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome {disease}: and {there is} no soundness in my flesh.
Psalms 38:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Psalms 38:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9 Lord, all my desire {is} before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
Psalms 38:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. {is gone...: Heb. is not with me}
Psalms 38:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. {sore: Heb. stroke} {my kinsmen: or, my neighbours}
Psalms 38:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12 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.
Psalms 38:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13 But I, as a deaf {man}, heard not; and {I was} as a dumb man {that} openeth not his mouth.
Psalms 38:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth {are} no reproofs.
Psalms 38:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. {in...: or, thee do I wait for} {hear: or, answer}
Psalms 38:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16 For I said, {Hear me}, lest {otherwise} they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify {themselves} against me.
Psalms 38:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17 For I {am} ready to halt, and my sorrow {is} continually before me. {to halt: Heb. for halting}
Psalms 38:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Psalms 38:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19 But mine enemies {are} lively, {and} they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. {are lively...: Heb. being living, are strong}
Psalms 38:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow {the thing that} good {is}.
Psalms 38:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
Psalms 38:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. {to...: Heb. for my help}
Psalms 38:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.