Feeble and crushed

That’s what David’s body felt like as a result of his sins. He makes a clear connection between his sins and his physical condition. The following are his words.

There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

[6] I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart. Psalm 38:3–8 (ESV)

He understood the connection between sin and sickness. He went on further to list other woes in his life. His friends and relatives keep a distance from him. None of them wish to associate with him due to his sickness. His pleas for help go unheard. But he knew that God would respond. 

“But for you O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord, who will answer.” (Psalm 38:15)

It’s not clear why his friends kept a distance from him. Maybe it was due to his sin or they could not stand being around him with all the sickness in his body. They might have gotten tired of his sickly condition. But it was clear to him that the Lord his God will respond to him in his time of need. 

But we know that all sickness is not due to sin. Once when Jesus and his disciples were walking along, he saw a man born blind from birth. His disciples asked Jesus if the man was born blind due to his sin or the sin of his parents. “Jesus answered, ‘it was not that this man sinned, or his parents but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:3) 

But Jesus also saw the connection between sin and sickness. Jesus said, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14) He said this when he saw the man whom he healed at the pool of Bethesda. 

David understood that there was a clear connection between his sin and his physical condition. But he also knew that the Lord saw his distress and heard his sighing (Psalm 38:9). He also knew that it was the Lord who would hear his plea and answer him and deliver him from all his distress. Maybe it is all your fault. But he will hear you and deliver you. 

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