Burdened

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. (Psalms 38:3 KJV)

When I first found this graphic, my shoulders ached for this heavily-laden water carrier. I don’t believe I could carry this load at all. As I read Psalms 8, I thought of this photo.

No – the carrier doesn’t appear ill, and certainly sinful doesn’t come to mind either. Unrested does, though, and burdened, as David continues:

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalms 38:4 KJV)

When we speak of being “in over my head,” we’re repeating David’s view of his situation in this Psalm. He knew the source of his own problems – his own iniquities, his own errors, his own sins.

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. (Psalms 38:5 KJV)

This, and Psalms 70, David wrote “to bring to remembrance.”

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. (Psalms 38:8 KJV)

That verse does bring to remembrance times in my life where I’ve yelled/complained at/to someone – and the reason was within me, not them.  When we’re unsettled, we tend to lash out.  Sometimes at those we love, those closest to us. God knows this:

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. (Psalms 38:9 KJV)

Through all of this, David’s hope remained:

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (Psalms 38:15 KJV)

Even when it was evident there were people waiting for him to make a mistake, to take a misstep:

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. (Psalms 38:16 KJV)

We know we’re going to make mistakes, too. There are consequences for our errors and there are always people around who will look upon them as a reason to make themselves look better. Hopefully, we’re like David and ready to make changes:

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. (Psalms 38:18 KJV)

That’s when I want to use David’s closing verses as my prayer:

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. (Psalms 38:21-22 KJV)

This Psalm does remind me of a picture written in the New Testament, too:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

I did come to Him, find rest and that His burden is light. I pray it may be so for my readers, too.