Christ in the Old Testament

Psalm 38:20

Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38

Psalm 38 is third in the series of seven traditional penitential psalms. Penitent psalms are considered as such because they express sorrow and regret for sin. I can remember what penitent means because in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy’s first clue to surviving the traps that led to the Holy Grail was that “Only the penitent man will pass.” Indy survived that first test by kneeling in prayer. But I digress.

Many historic Bible scholars believed that Psalm 38 in its entirety are the words of Jesus. They believed Psalm 38 was a first person narrative from Jesus on the cross much like Psalm 22. Even though not one verse of Psalm 38 is quoted in the New Testament, I too find myself in this camp.

Verse one begins the psalm with the same cry to God as Psalm 22. It’s a cry to God to rescue him. It’s a cry to not turn his back on him.

Verses two through ten describe the suffering of the psalmist. He speaks of his wounds festering and his back searing in pain. He also speaks about sin and guilt. The sins Jesus confesses are the sins of the body of which Jesus is the head. He bears the guilt of the sins of all humankind. God hands out His punishment on the cross for the consequences of sin that began with Adam when he first sinned in the garden. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬).

Verses 11-20 turn to the people that surround him. “My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away” (vs 11) speaks directly to all his disciples who abandoned and disowned him the night before. His enemies set their traps. They schemed and lied in order to kill him. The words of Jesus can be clearly heard in verse 20, “Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.”

The psalm concludes exactly as it began with Jesus crying out to God for rescue. But we know it wouldn’t come because Jesus took on our sin to bear the full weight of the consequences that we deserved. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬).

Today’s Prayer: Lord, help me to fully grasp the weight of my sin that you bore for me on the cross. Help me to be grateful no matter my circumstances because you died for me.