Show Don't Tell: Psalm 38

Instead of saying "David suffered under God's discipline," feel the arrows embedded. "LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin." Arrows sunk deep—God's discipline as penetrating wounds. "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear." Crushing weight. "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." Festering wounds, burning back, groaning all day. "All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes." Heart racing, strength gone, vision dimming. "My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away." Isolation—even friends keep distance. "Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie." Enemies circling. "But I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot open their mouths." No defense attempted. "LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God."