David — King of Israel, warrior, and psalmist who experienced triumph and failure. Set in Jerusalem, royal palace or temple. David is drowning in physical pain and emotional torment, his body wracked with illness while his guilt over past sins crushes his spirit. Friends and family have abandoned him in his darkest hour, leaving him to face both disease and isolation. He cries out to God from a place of complete brokenness, acknowledging his sin while desperately pleading for relief.
“Psalms 38:21” — 38:21
The raw agony of someone who feels utterly abandoned by both God and people while battling physical and spiritual pain.
Read when: Read this when you're battling illness or depression and feel like everyone has given up on you.
1Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.2For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.3There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.4For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.6I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.7For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.8I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.9Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.10My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.12They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.13But I, as a deaf man, don't hear. I am as a mute man who doesn't open his mouth.14Yes, I am as a man who doesn't hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.15For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God.16For I said, "Don't let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."17For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.18For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.19But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.20They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.21Don't forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don't be far from me.22Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation. For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.