What does Psalm 38:15 mean?
David realized that only God could resolve his desperate circumstances. His prayer reveals two key facts about David. First, he patiently looked to the Lord for relief from his suffering (Psalm 38:8, 22). Second, although he had committed serious sins (Psalm 38:1–4), he realized God was still his God. This coordinates with other statements in the Bible noting that our ultimate hope, in all circumstances, is the Lord and not anything on earth (Psalm 18:6; 46:1; 121:1–2; Ephesians 6:12).When a believer suffers, it's best to follow David's example. We should be patient in prayer. The Lord's timing is not always our timing, but it is perfect, and He will respond to prayer at the right time. Further, the Lord does not disown His children when we sin (Hebrews 12:5–11). He is still their God, and He will answer them. However, like David, if sin destroys their fellowship with God, they must confess their sin to enjoy restored fellowship (1 John 1:9).
This verse uses three Hebrew terms in reference to God. The first is YHWH, often rendered as "LORD," which is the self-identified name of God (Exodus 3:15). The second is Adonai, a reference to God as "Master." The third is from the term 'Elōhim, referring to a mighty being or deity. Calling out to "LORD…Lord my God" is like appealing to, "God…my Master, my Deity." David folds several aspects of the Lord's nature into his prayer.
