A Psalm of Remorse

Temple Baptist Church - 11-23-2025

Psalm 38

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This is another Davidic Psalm, as is designated in the opening of it.  Psalm 38 is one of the seven “Penitential Psalms” of David (along with Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143).

 

1.  These psalms reveal a man’s heart broken under the weight of sin, crying out to God for mercy and restoration.

 

2.  David is experiencing the physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational consequences that are often the result of sin. It is a psalm soaked in grief, guilt, and sorrow.  This is the remorse of a saved man who knows he has grieved the heart of the God he loves.

 

3.  It is also a Psalm about hope in the mercy of God.  When Moses asked to see God’s glory, the Lord proclaimed that His glory was found in His goodness.

 

Exodus 34:6-7  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  (7)  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 

B.  David, as a man after God’s own heart, failed God in many ways, but I believe the one failure that continued to haunt him was his sin with Bathsheba.  I believe this for several reasons:

 

1.  He was haunted by his sin with another man’s wife.  Death Sentence.

 

2.  He was haunted by the murder of one of his best friends.  Death Sentence.

 

3. He was haunted by the fact that his sin cost him the loss of a son.

 

4. He was haunted by his shame before Nathan, his friend and counselor. 

 

5.  He was haunted by the continued sword that would never leave his house and destroy many of his own.

 

C.  The title reads, “A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.” This means David is intentionally recalling his sin, sorrow, and the severity of God’s chastening — not to dwell on guilt, but to remind himself and others of the high cost of sin and the mercy of God in forgiveness.

 

D.  It is a Psalm of Remorse — a soul crushed beneath conviction, yet still looking up toward grace.  The broken heart of a believer under chastisement seeks mercy, forgiveness, and restoration from the Lord.  Remorse over sins and consequences that cannot be changed.  Water under the bridge cannot be restored.  Pain will not go away.  I have often said that I want to die with as few regrets as possible. 

 

E.  I chose this title because, as a man after God’s own heart, we still see the human side of this great king.  “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love!”  One of my favorites, yet unfavorite, parts of a song.  Unfavorite because I do not want to leave the God I love, and favorite because it gives me hope and joy that God never gives up on me!

 

F. I have often said that we need to leave this world with as few regrets as possible. My humanity often shows up, especially at the most inconvenient times. Thank the Lord again and again for 1 John 1:9! I wonder if it should be my Life Verse instead of Galatians 6:14?

 

G.  I am so glad that through it all, we will all end right, in heaven with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, without spot or blemish, faultless to stand before His throne.  That, my friend, is shouting ground!

 

H.  Let us break the Psalm down into three parts and get some help for ALL of us!

 

1.  The Guilt that David bore.  Verses 1-8.

 

a.  His plea for Mercy – Verse 1.  David felt the weight of the sin that he bore and asked God not to chasten him in “thy hot displeasure.”  He is not seeking mercy for his consequence but for the continuation of it.

 

b.  His burden for his Sin – Verses 2-4.  David understands that the chastisement that he is under is just.  David knew that God's chastisement was an act of divine love, not of divine hatred.  Whom the Lord loveth!

 

c.  The physical consequences of his sin – Verses 5-8.  Sin not only takes a spiritual toll on the child but can also have lasting physical consequences!

 

2.  The Isolation of David’s Choice.  Verses 9-14.

 

a.  A cry out of an open heart – Verses 9-10.  Sin became between David and God alone.  Others can pray for us, but only God can be with us in our remorse.

 

b.  Isolation from those close to his heart – Verse 11.  Sin will also isolate the believer because he/she cannot maintain fellowship.  The spiritual person will pray for the sinful, try to restore them, but must separate from them.

 

c.  Slandered by those who did not love him – Verses 12-14.  Often, our sin gives the adversaries of God an occasion to blaspheme.

 

3.  David’s hope in the Lord.  Verses 15-22.

 

a.  David’s faith in the Lord – Verses 15-18.  Even in times such as these, David’s confidence in God never failed.

 

b.  David did not try to cover or “soft soap” his sin; he openly and truthfully confessed it.  True remorse leads to confession, not concealment.

 

c.  Remorse without repentance is despair, but remorse with confession becomes restoration.

 

d.  David’s cry for deliverance – Verses 19-21.  When all lovers, friends, and enemies else forsake him, David pleads for God to come near to him.  Even while enemies rejoice in his fall, David pleads for the nearness of God.

 

e. David does not look to ritual or to reformation, but to redemption.  This is the heart of all true repentance: a sinner seeking help from his Savior.

 

Conclusion: Thank the Lord that there is always a road back to fellowship with God!

 

1.  Sin brings suffering. The pleasure of sin is temporary; the pain is lasting.

 

2.  Conviction is mercy. God’s arrows are painful, but they point us back to Him.

 

3.  Confession restores fellowship. Remorse without confession hardens; confession brings healing.

 

4.  God’s mercy is greater than our sin. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20).