Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-22

Psalms 38:0

The Suffering Saint and Confession of Sin

1. Suffering and Humiliation (Psalms 38:1-8 )

2. Looking to the Lord (Psalms 38:9-15 )

3. Confession and prayer (Psalms 38:16-20 )

This Psalm is read by the Jews on the day of atonement. It pictures great suffering in body and soul; it reminds us in different ways of the book of Job. (See and compare Psalms 38:2 with Job 6:4 ; Psalms 38:4 with Job 23:2 ; Psalms 38:11 with Job 19:13 ; the loathsome disease, with no soundness in the flesh, also reminds of Job’s experience.) And the suffering one looks to Jehovah, He is his hope. He confesses his sins, pleads, “Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation.” And that cry will always be answered.