The Quick Help of the Lord

 

Psalm 38:21-22 “O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.” (NIV)

Psalm 38 describes someone who has come to the end of himself because of his sinful folly in such a devastating way that his health and his friendships have been negatively impacted. I believe that this psalm was written by David in the wake of his sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11, and demonstrates sin’s full impact on all aspects of the sinner’s life. Sin really “stinks” up our lives and must be addressed in repentance and confession with our God. Sin simply can’t be swept under the rug or hidden from view because it corrupts, erodes, and destroys who we are in character, personality, and thinking. Left unattended, it can spread its malignancy through all facets of our lives, making us sick and then destroying us. If you learn any lesson from Psalm 38, learn this one: sin must be taken to God and put at his feet as we beg forgiveness if we are to ever be whole and real as a person again.

Look at what sin does to any one of us that find ourselves in its disastrous grip:

• Brings us low 38:6
• Results in our mourning 38:6
• Leaves us with no health in the body 38:7
• Makes us feeble and utterly crushed 38:8
• Causes us to groan in anguish of heart 38:8
• Our strength fails 38:10
• Our friends and companions avoid us 38:11
  • Our pain is unrelenting 38:17

The devastating consequences of sin always come after the sin, but unfortunately we almost never count its cruel costs before we decide to spurn God and feed our selfish desires. Those around us and often closest to us are often hurt by our sin, and it is heartbreaking to know that their suffering is a result of our sinful folly. The glorious truth is that our God is merciful and loving and will forgive us of our sins and put us on the right path to healing and wholeness IF we will confess our iniquity (Psalm 38:18). Remember, first we must come to the end of ourselves and understand that our sole relief is from our Lord, and we must wait on him alone since only he can answer our prayers for forgiveness and restoration (Psalm 38:15). In our devotional text, we have the prayer that we must say daily to our Lord, and it has four components of appeal as from a child to his or her God:

1. Do not forsake me.
2. Be not far from me.
3. Come quickly.
4. Help me.

Our appeal must be always focused on God recognizing any deviant and wrong path we have followed, and appealing to God for forgiveness and help to change course and return to his ways.

FATHER, TODAY HELP ME TO BE SENSITIVE TO MY SIN AND IMMEDIATELY TURN TO YOU FOR HELP AND RESTORATION IN MY LIFE, SO THAT I MIGHT RECEIVE YOUR FORGIVENESS AND HEALING POWER. AMEN!

Mike White @ Summit church of Christ