Poetry: Oh Lord Do Not Rebuke Me (Psalm 38)

If there was any guy who knew how to petition God, David was that guy!  Psalm 38 sums up what I feel so much of my waking hours.  Amazing how I can "feel David's pain" even though we are separated by thousands of years.  Truly mind-boggling.  I include this Psalm here because honestly, David was a much better petitioner than I am.  He wrote convincingly and emotionally from the heart, and I'm sure that God heard his petitions and prayers--and answered many, if not all, of David's peititions.  I know this petition to God is of course is not original with me, but I certainly "second the motion" to appeal to God for His mercy and understanding.  In this case, David speaks for the two of us.  I regret that he beat me to authoring this by over 2000 years!

This version is from the New International Version (NIV)

Psalms 38.  A psalm of David. A petition. 

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 
For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.
My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.
My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.
I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;
I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.
I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.
For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.
Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.
O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.
Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

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