Psalm 38:1-12
Almost all of today’s reading is David’s lamenting of his situation (vv. 1-8, 10). What’s left is his reaching out to the Lord (v. 9), his friends distancing him (v. 11), and his enemies taking advantage of his condition (v. 12). I don’t recall any of our earlier laments where David is so focused on his plight.
It’s hard to tell whether David is in physical pain or in anguish over his own sin. Verses 3b and 4 seem to stand alone as for any sin in his life: …because of my sin. For my iniquities … are too heavy for me. If you see those verses as the key to his situation, then all the other verses are metaphorical. However, the overwhelming evidence is toward physical pain: … arrows have sunk into me … no soundness in my flesh … no health in my bones … my wounds stink and fester … bowed down and prostrate … my sides are filled with burning … no soundness in my flesh.
But whether physical pain or anguish over his sin, why would his friends and family depart from him (v. 11)? That I don’t understand. To me that would be the really deep hurt, an emotional pain difficult to accept. A sad situation for David…