Bible 365 - June 10th (print-friendly version)

Psalms 38-41
(How Long?!)
June 10th

Produced by The Listening for God Ministry
Copyright 2016

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Bible Gateway
Psalms 38-41 (King James Version - KJV)
Psalms 38-41 (New Revised Standard Version - NRSV)
Psalms 38-41 (New International Version - NIV)
Psalms 38-41 (The Message - MSG)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Psalm 38 (New American Bible - NAB) (click the "next chapter" link on the site for chapters 39-41)

British Bible Society
Psalm 38 (Good News Bible - GNB) (click next for chapters 39-41)

Key Verse

Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior

- Psalm 38:22 (NIV)

Summary of Chapters

This set of chapters concludes Book I of Psalms with themes of forgiveness and mercy written in a style known as a lament. Psalm 38 indicates that the author believes he is suffering physical pain because of his sins and prays for healing: “my wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly (Ps 38:5 - NIV).” He closes this Psalm pleading with the LORD to come quickly and help him.

In the 39th Psalm, the author seeks forgiveness before death, knowing “how fleeting is my life (Ps 39:4 - NIV).”

"Ah, GOD, listen to my prayer, my
   cry—open your ears.
Don't be callous;
   just look at these tears of mine.
I'm a stranger here. I don't know my way—
   a migrant like my whole family.
Give me a break, cut me some slack
   before it's too late and I'm out of here."

- Psalm 39:12-13 (MSG)

Psalm 40 also begins with praises to God, who, says the Psalmist, “heard my cry and lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on rock (Ps 40:2 - NIV).” He continues with a pledge to do God’s will and reminds God of how he has spoken of God’s faithfulness. The Psalmist then concludes by again asking the LORD to come quickly to help, just like in Psalm 38.

Psalm 41 is the final chapter in Book I of the Psalms. It begins by noting that those who care for the weak are blessed, then asks for mercy and protection. This Psalm and Book 1 concludes with a doxology of praise, which is genrally assume to not be from the original Psalm, but rather added by an editor involved in the grouping of the Psalms: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen (Ps 41:13 - NIV)."

Reflection and Application

There are more Psalms of lament then any other type of Psalm in the Psalter. We have already seen quite a few in addition to the ones we read today - all four in today's readings are known as laments. Altogether, the Psalms of Lament probably make up more than one-third of the 150 Psalms. You might have noticed that most of them follow the pattern listed below (1):

An Address to God
The Lament Itself
Confession of Trust in God
Exclamation of Certainty
The Vow of Praise

You might want to look for this pattern when you encounter the next lament.

The primary author of laments and other Psalms in Book I is presumed to be David, second King of the United Kingdom of Israel. He was very successful as a King and military leader, but committed grave sins and experienced many personal trials.

Despite his shortcomings, David is notable for his persistence. He kept coming to God in faith during all circumstances: He praised God with words, music and dancing during good times and petitioned for forgiveness, help, and protection during bad times. He even appeared to be angry and impatient in a number of Psalms.

We can exercise our faith in God by also praying in all circumstances, and sharing our disappointments directly with him, as did David, Job ( Job 7:11), and Moses ( Numbers 12:10-15).

David created these Psalm as an offering to God and a guide for us. Many of the Psalms were written as lyrics that were meant to be sung. We are not far off when we read them as poems, but the original raw emotions become clearer when they are sung in a soulful manner. For example, Bono (aka Paul David Hewson, born in Ireland on May 10, 1960), of the rock group U2, penned a song titled “40” that is based on the 40th Psalm. He did a commendable job translating it into a contemporary lyrical style with musical accompaniment and he sings it with sincere passion:

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

- Excerpt from '40' written by Bono

Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection