In “remembering what sin does” Jefferson Vann encourages all of the world’s “shut-ins” to contemplate what sin does.
Psalm 38 (JDV)
Psalm 38:1 Yahveh, do not punish me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath
Psalm 38:2 because your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has pressed down on me.
Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my body because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
Psalm 38:4 For my violations have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.
Psalm 38:5 My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness.
Psalm 38:6 I am bent over and brought very low; all day long I go around in mourning
Psalm 38:7 because my insides are full of burning pain, and there is no soundness in my body.
Psalm 38:8 I am faint and severely crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart.
Psalm 38:9 Master, my every desire is in front of you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
Psalm 38:10 My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded.
Psalm 38:11 My loved ones and friends stand back due to my affliction, and my relatives stand at a distance.
Psalm 38:12 Those who intend to kill my soul set traps, and those who want to harm me spoke out to destroy me; they plot treachery all day long.
Psalm 38:13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear. I am like a speechless person who does not open his mouth.
Psalm 38:14 I am like a man who does not hear and has no arguments in his mouth
Psalm 38:15 because I put my hope in you, Yahveh; you will answer me, my Lord, my God.
Psalm 38:16 You see, I said, “Don’t let them be happy over me – those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble”
Psalm 38:17 because I am about to fall, and my time of anguish is constantly with me.
Psalm 38:18 So I confess my violation; I am anxious because of my sin.
Psalm 38:19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason.
Psalm 38:20 Those who repay evil for good attack me for chasing after good.
Psalm 38:21 Yahveh, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me.
Psalm 38:22 Hurry to help me, my Lord, my salvation.
remembering what sin does
The world is full of shut-ins at the moment. The Corona virus has halted much of what we are doing, and has given us time to think about life. Hopefully, we gain some perspective in the process.
I had a “church meeting” last night online. Nine of us met online and discussed how to go forward when our congregation is being encouraged not to congregate. We had to focus on the situation as it currently is, not just try to make things normal.
The psalmist focuses on life at its lowest here. Everything is going wrong. He is a believer in God, but he has sinned, and feels God’s hand of punishment. His body is sick and sore and almost sightless. His enemies are seeking to take advantage of his condition to eliminate him altogether. He feels so ashamed, it is hard to speak. But he must speak, at least to God. He confesses (18).
This psalm contains the note “for remembrance.” One would think that the ordeal it describes is something one would want to forget, not remember. But may that never happen! May we never forget the terrible price of sin. Sin destroys. In the future, sin will destroy the reprobate in hell, and it destroys lives of those who cling to it presently. We need to remember that.
Lord, remind us of the terrible price we pay when we choose to disobey you.
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For more on the ultimate results of sin, see:
The Bible versus The Traditional View of Hell
Reading Romans Again – as a conditionalist
Defining Christian Conditionalism
OUR NEED AS SINNERS MET IN THE GIFT OF GOD. By W. Laing.
In the Day Genesis 2:17 – Conditional Immortality- The penalty for Adam’s Sin was literal death
Human Death | The problem of death
Conditional Immortality and Salvation (Again)
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13
About Jefferson Vann
Jefferson Vann is a teacher, Bible translator, and avid blogger. "My hope is that everyone who reads my writings will have an opportunity to understand the gospel, and will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior." He has written books on theology and Bible commentary. You can read more of Jeff's writing at Devotions | Jefferson Vann | Commands of Christ | Learning Koine Greek Together
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