The Haunting

For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:17-18  NASB Anxiety – At last we come to the real problem.  “I’m afraid.”  The Hebrew word is dĕʾāgâ.  “The root dāʾag signifies anxiety, with a shading toward the meaning of fear…

The Bigger Picture

For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:17-18  NASB Sin – Before we can understand the psalmist’s anxiety, we need to know what he means by the Hebrew term ḥaṭṭāʾt, translated “sin.”  As we’ve mentioned, sin is a religious…

Imperfect

For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:17-18  NASB Continually before – Pay attention!  The Hebrew words translated “continually before” are negdi tāmîd.  The root of negdi is neged.  Why is this important?  Because in the very next sentence,…

Take Two Aspirin

For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:17-18  NASB Sorrow – What is “continually before” the psalmist?  If we thought he is experiencing “deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or misfortune,” we would convert this ancient Hebrew into modern…

Low Hanging Fruit

For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me.  For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.  Psalm 38:17-18  NASB Ready to fall – These two verses are so full of deeper meanings that it’s impossible to feel the full impact in a one-page analysis.  Let’s explore these Hebrew words,…