May 27
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REBUKE ME NOT IN YOUR ANGER
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;
There is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.5 My wounds stink and fester
Because of my foolishness,6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
All the day I go about mourning. 7 For my sides are filled with burning,
And there is no soundness in my flesh.8 I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
My sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
And the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
And my nearest kin stand far off. – Psalm 38:1-11
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This psalm is a plea for forgiveness and pardon from the Lord. It reveals the psalmist’s intimacy with the Lord. His honesty and humility is astounding as we hear him confess his sins and all his weaknesses. He acknowledges his nothingness before the Lord and he knows very well God’s character. He knows that he is supposed to be disciplined by God when he has disobeyed and done things against his will. He pleads the Lord to give him mercy and not bring his wrath over all the sinful things he has done. He knows that God hates evil and that he is a just God who punishes sinful acts. He has a contrite heart and I think that all believers should have this humility and repentance as soon as they are convicted of sin.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for disciplining his beloved people. He is just and loving.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I am not strong to decline temptations and obey.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your generous mercy and grace to sinful people like me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers’ hearts seek God’s own heart and repent of sins.
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REFLECTION
• Why is a contrite heart essential in a Christian’s life?