Psalm 38:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”

NIV: For I said, 'Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.'

NASB: For I said, 'May they not rejoice over me, Who, when my foot slips, would exalt themselves over me.'

CSB: For I said, "Don't let them rejoice over me -- those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble."

NLT: I prayed, 'Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.'

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

NKJV: For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”

As a warrior and king, David's enemies were eager to celebrate his defeat. Committing serious sin (Psalm 38:18; 2 Samuel 12:7–9) would provide political foes with an opportunity. David's sin (Psalm 38:1–4, 18) has given his enemies room to attack (Psalm 38:12). This is partly due to David's disabling sense of conviction for his crimes (Psalm 38:8). David is not hopeless (Psalm 38:15, 22) but he cries out in desperation. Therefore, David asks God to prevent his enemies from being able to gloat over him.

Scripture sometimes refers to sin using the imagery of walking, or a path, were someone takes a wrong step or leaves the designated trail (Proverbs 3:23; 4:14; Psalm 17:5). When a believer starts to stray from the Lord, it isn't long before sin leads to a fall and God's reputation is tarnished in the eyes of unbelievers (1 Peter 2:12; Romans 2:23–24). Christians must be alert to temptation and walk carefully (Ephesians 5:15) so they do not disgrace the Lord.

The book of Judges reports often that Samson made poor choices, leading to his downfall. Finally, when he was weak, the Philistines pounced on him, gouged out his eyes, bound him with shackles, and forced him into slavery in a mill (Judges 16:18– 21). But their tormenting of Samson did not end at the mill. They credited their false god, Dagon, with their capture of Samson. They celebrated by making fun of Samson (Judges 16:23–25). They must have thought Samson's God was weaker than Dagon until Samson prayed for renewed strength and literally brought the roof down on them, killing them (Judges 16:26–30).

Psalm 38:15–22 concludes David's plea just as it began: with a prayer. Having described his suffering, he prays now for forgiveness and for the Lord to silence his enemies. He asks God not to forsake him but to help him. His final words reveal his dependence on the Lord for deliverance. He addresses the Lord as "my salvation."

David cries out to God in repentance for his sin. He feels the weight of shame and conviction, as if being pierced by arrows, ravaged by disease, crushed, and blinded. His friends have abandoned him; his enemies plot his demise. All of these have been brought about because of his "iniquity." Throughout this misery, David does not abandon hope. Instead, he confidently calls on the Lord to forgive and rescue him.

Psalm 38 and Psalm 32 are similar. They both express David's deep sense of guilt, his contrition, and his confession. Both psalms refer to the ill effect David's sins exerted on his physical condition. Psalm 38's descriptions seem mostly symbolic, but his anguish is very literal. Likely, the sins in question were adultery with Bathsheba and the arranged murder of her husband (2 Samuel 12:7–9). If so, these themes connect directly to Psalm 51. David asks God to forgive him and heal him.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.