\When You are Overcome by Your Sin and Guilt:
- How does David describe his suffering (Ps 38:1; 6:1)?
- Is he asking not to be rebuked or disciplined?
- Who does God discipline (Heb 12:6)? Why (Heb 12:10)?
- How does he feel (Ps 38:2)?
- What does David connect his suffering with (Ps 38:3, 5)? How did his sin and guilt affect him (Ps 38:4, 6-8)? How does your sin affect you?
- Does God discipline severely (Ac 5:5, 10; 1 Cor 11:29-30)?
- What kind of suffering have you experienced in your life?
- What do you think caused your suffering?
- What does David know about God's knowledge of him (Ps 38:9; 139:1, 5, 7, 23-24; Gen 16:13)? How is he different from Adam (Gen 3:10)? How devastated is he (Ps 38:10, 17)?
- How does David's friends react to him (Ps 38:11-12)? Why (Ps 38:16, 19-20)? How did he respond to their criticism and opposition (Ps 38:13-14; 46:10; Eccl 5:2; Isa 53:7; Mt 27:14)?
- After expressing great suffering what did David do (Ps 38:15; 39:7; 42:5, 11)? Is it easy for you to just wait on God without any time schedule (Job 13:15) What if you do (Isa 40:31)?
- Is it easy to honesty confess your sins (Ps 38:18)? What if you don't (Ps 32:3-4)? What if you do (Ps 32:5; 1 Jn 1:9)?
- Do you long to be near God more than with someone else (Ps 38:21)? How earnestly do you affirm your need for help (Ps 38:22)?
- Was his suffering relieved at the end of this Psalm? Is there a high point in this Psalm?
- How could David be so bold to appeal to God for mercy, being the guilty sinner that he was (Ps 51:3-4)?
- How might affliction, anguish, adversity and anxiety help a Christian more than comfort and convenience, safety and security (Ps 119:67, 71, 75, 92)?
- How does Psalm 38 point to Christ (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)?
