Discernment and psalm 38

3 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any 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 are foul and festering Because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off. 12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.

13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth. 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no response.

15 For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, "Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me."

17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 20 Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! The psalmist David is languishing physically and this is just one part of his troubles. That the Lord is allowing this to happen is being interpreted by him as part of a chastisement. The second part of his troubles are the not exactly sympathetic voices out there, some who are perhaps happy to see his seemingly impending and looming demise or just are giving him further words of discouragement, discomfort and lost hope. It is true that the Lord speaks through other people and uses other people especially of those that are of godly pursuits.

This is not the case here, as those around David are becoming the voice of the adversary. He calls them adversaries in verse 20, so he clearly sees them as the opposing voices. Whether they had been friends it is hard to say but with friends like this who needs enemies? He speaks of friends in verse 11 and that at the least were not offering support even if they did not join the chorus of opposing voices so the idea of reaching out to others to find the voices of counsel and wisdom was rightly viewed by David as just not there and in fact giving any credence to these voices would only add upon his troubles.

David is keen though in understanding that the lack of helpful voices out there was just another part in this array of events that was signifying that the Lord was directly calling him back and that no other recourse or lifeline would be otherwise found.

He was in the desert and the howling winds of the desert included the voices of others and therefore there was no way out of this through the help and of others in this case.

When David speaks of the Lord's hot displeasure in verse one, he is clearly bringing about imagery of a desert experience, that is of the Lord's doing and at least he knows where the Lord stands at these moments and in launching David into the desert the Lord is clearly not indifferent to David. In the book of Revelation Chapter 3 it states: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. It might have been that David became lukewarm and the passion of the Lord was bringing about all this as part of his callback. David in the past probably did have the good counsel of others, and did seek out advice but he is realizing that even this has dissappeared and all the voices out there are like rants against him. In also says in Revelation Chapter 3: 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

It is looking more and more to David, that within this chastisement, the only voice left is going to be the voice of the Lord and he must open the door to this voice and close the door to all others.

The question becomes how do you tell who is speaking of the ways of the Lord and who is speaking from another spirit? When should the voices of others be given credence and weight and when should these voices be disregarded? It might have been as in the past appropriate for David to consult with others but as these current events unfolded he is realizing that this consultation is not going to work as a matter of discerning the reality of what he was now facing.

At the same time this is all a matter of discernment and we have the famous book on that which is the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius where there is the idea of desolation and consolation within movements for the one who is going through the process of discernment.

David seems to be somewhat contradictory is that he talks of his many iniquities or transgressions, yet he has many castigators out there because he follows that which is good according to verse 20. It may be that his primary sin and the point of chastisement was that he was giving weight to the voices of those who were not championing the cause of the Lord and the Lord's hot displeasure was in how David gave heed to voices that he should not have. He may have been hanging around with and dialoging with those who were anti God and this was contributing to his own lukewarmness. . While he is neither deaf nor lacks the ability for good speech, for the purposes of these dealings with them he is now muting his speech and not listening to them or turning a dealt ear to them in a more modern day expression.

Why he feels need to do this is important to the message of the psalm.

As things began to spiral downward and out of control in a downward fashion for David, he realizes that the voice he needs to seek on this matter is the Lord's and the outside voices now around him are not sourced from the Lord and in fact they may oppose what the Lord has to say to David. It is also possible that those that are well meaning, as in the case in the story of Job with his friends, that what they have to say in wisdom, may not be the Lord's view on the particular matter at hand. In this case, however, the entourage out there is not well meaning and they are clearly formed against David himself.

He could read this as the Lord speaking through them, but he does not do this and instead seeks to hear the voice of the Lord for himself and get the truth. In any case, in this particular set of circumstances, David is drowning out the voices of others, and not engaging in dialogue with them.

In relating this psalm to today, there are more competing voices out here than ever, in terms of what might be available, in terms of what you can read, surf with on the web, listen to in the media both visually and in listening to the radio and within the constant streaming up swells of a highly opinionated and at times highly polarized society.

But the damage control might be, to shift the attention away from these voices, let go of their grips and get with the voice of the Lord for you.

The individual concern whatever it may be relates to the individual relationship with the Lord and what he wants you to pay attention to or not pay attention to within the course and paths of your life under his leadership.

The guiding principles in this psalm are distance and closeness with the centering words of the psalm being when David says,"be not far from me." . This statement works both ways in the matter of discernment as the Lord is saying the same thing to David by chastising him and getting him back to the point of proper attention, he is also saying to David what David is saying to him, which is " be not far from me." This statement operates as a two way street. Verse 21 reads as follows in the psalm: 21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! These words cross in both directions as David is also called to be not far from the Lord and his increasing distance from the Lord is keenly observed by David as what is causing the corresponding increasing troubles. We don't know all the specifics of how and why he was becoming distant from the Lord but he had compromised his closeness to the Lord in either one or many ways and the jackels of that forest of compromise were coming back to haunt him and guiding him right into the desert. In James Chapter 4 verse 8 it says," Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

This is saying something similar in that the closeness is in both directions and there should be a singular approach in minding attention to the ways of the Lord rather that doubling into a dual attention and focus away to folly.

David had become double minded, giving some attention to the Lord and then dividing a good portion of it away elsewhere.

A big example of a very consuming news item today is the financial news. Of course it could at other times be anything else and this is just an example. People of course want to follow the money trail and while it might be nice to have money, the trail might dissipate as well. The news of stocks and the market prices, big financial concerns gets big play in the media and people almost feel obligated to keep in tune with this or they are somehow out of the money machine. If the attention to this slacks off, then they might believe their own good source of funds could be lost. But it might be that the Lord wants your attention and the absorption of your time away from this depending and this is for discernment and any thing that is a strong subject for attention should be discerned. It might be that the Lord wants someone to forget about stocks or maybe not.

This is only one of many countless areas that need to be sifted though and consulted with in the presence of the Lord as to whether there needs to be more of a handle on it or a letting go process involved.

Keep the antennas raised as to whether any ongoing pursuit is drawing you closer to the Lord or away from those calm seas of his presence.

The consultation and desolation can be put in term of the desert experience or the oasis experience.

The twist is what might seem like something that is inviting, may in fact be leading you into a desert experience and what initially doesn't look as inviting may eventually have oasis overtones. This is why discernment is needed. This is why it is not that easy or automatic to assume that a path is the right one for you.

The oasis is desirable but the desert may view as an oasis from a distance but this is actually a mirage.

David himself in this psalm followed something like a mirage that had a false glitter to it and led him into this desert experience.

With all his wisdom and knowledge, in some realms he was subject to the false presentations of the mirage and he now realizes that he needs the closeness of the Lord to get away from the mirages which have led him to this desert experience and again find the oasis of the personal presence of the Lord to him and all the riches contained for him in the oasis of that relationship of closeness.

This is a constant issue according to the ways of discernment as a study needs to be made of the ways in which the Lord is drawing your attention to him and maybe also away from things which are dividing your heart away from him. You can never be absolutely sure that it would be this way or that way, you must, "test the spirits" or go into the discernment process. It may be that the Lord wants you to be in a given area, and is drawing attention to that area which might be seemingly secular. These points would differ for each person and would be specific to time and place within the call of the unique and personal relationship with the Lord.

But the overall theme is that increasing distance from the Lord may bring on increasing troubles as the Lord will allow the troubles to stir up as part of the process of drawing you back.

It has to be examined individually what is leading towards or possibly away from the Lord in the manner of closeness.

And the reverse is true as you come closer to the Lord.

The idea of work hard and play hard doesn't cover the bases if keen and careful attention isn't given to the Lord in serious prayer and contemplation or meditation in his presence.

There must be some sizable portion of your attention to the Lord and the ways of the Lord. You can find the most elevated positions in society, be lauded by the press and public but the discerning eye must be towards the draw of the Lord and the need to stay close first and foremost through any ongoing and continued process as it unfolds.

David in this psalm is facing collapsing elements both within himself and his personal health and without with whom he is dealing with.

He at least for the moment has partially lost his way in his own relationship with the Lord.

He is realizing that he must simplify, let go of other voices, disengage from certain dialogues and get back his own closeness to the Lord in the two way street of closeness found in that vital relationship.

Those around David were also embedding in the mirage, the false glitter which ultimately would be leading to the desert or desolation and David knew that to break free he needed to avoid them by not listening to them, and not engaging in dialogue or discussions with them as trouble would abound only further within the increasing separation from the voice of the Lord as contending voices rang louder. His remaining hope was the door was still open to return the closeness of his prior relationship with the all powerful Lord and finding that residing closeness once again. The whole book of Hosea relates to the theme of closeness verses distance and gives a vision of the oasis verses the desert.

Hosea Chapter 6 verse 3 talks about pursuing that closeness of the Lord. 3 Let us know; Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. From Hosea Chapter 9 verse 10 there is the imagery of being found in the desert by the Lord. 10 " I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved. The Lord initiated his presence to them in the desert, he saw them even as the first, but they separated themselves and their attention away from the loving presence of the Lord who sought them out and found them. The idea of grapes in the wilderness means there is some goodness left. In terms of discernment for someone who is in the desert, they might feel there is nothing good left within themselves to bring out of the desert. There needs to be the ideas of the grape within, that can still be revived and brought forth out of and away from the desert into a possible oasis scene. The final chapter of Hosea which is chapter 14 Speaks of a healing of the backsliding and a new call to restoration in the oasis. 1 O Israel, return to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity; 2 Take words with you, And return to the LORD. Say to Him,

" Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us, We will not ride on horses, Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy." 4 " I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall be revived like grain, And grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 " Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?' I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me." 9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. Here with the revival and the return to the Lord, the conditions are likened to an oasis or Eden like paradise with growth and spreading goodness.

They had lost their way in their misguided sightings of the ultra successful with forming a trust into what they were seeing and in their over emphasis on their own good work and this led them right into the desert.

Surface sightings of others good fortune and power can result in a sometimes false draw towards that and away from the Lord depending on what the true underpinnings of that success are.

Then, while being diligent and doing good work is important it is not however all important and if viewed that way it can form into types of idolatry. The tower of Babel being an example of this.

The warning in these verses of Hosea is not to look too strongly to the successful and powerful, in this case the Assyrians and also not to make your own work and whatever results you obtain with and from this work to be more than it is. Within these verses it says "I have heard and observed him", indicating that the Lord has been watching and listening all along. Relating this to the psalm, it might have been that the Lord was listening in on David's more recent discussions with others and what was being said displeased him and this is the reason David is now foregoing dialogue with others within his repentance. It may also be that the Lord was displeased with who and what David was now listening to and this is now the reason why David says he will not hear. A reading through all of the chapters of Hosea shows the idea of the call back and how this call reaches further even into the desert.

The desert is a representation of a dryness of spirit and might be the experience even in the midst of say personal wealth and gain as all the staples of society are not the truest indicators are where you are on the spectrum of hope.

The key is to discern if you are in a desert in any given area of your life and how you can revive these ares into the oasis of hope through the presence of the Lord.

Ask the Lord to expose the truth as to whether you really are in the desert and from there you can seek remedy and redress. So a big part of the discernment process it fuller light and exposure as to where you really are.

There might be a number of things that can bring us into the wilderness experience. This is why in prayer, the best strategy is to give the Lord broader ranges to attend to as well as specifics as the dryness of the desert indicates broad areas that need tending as the desert itself can be broad and a great example of that in nature is the Sahara.

So the idea of pressing on just on one request and then saying to yourself, if I can just get this one answer and I'm through this trouble is not the way to go as the canvas of the spirit goes wide and to the far reaches and great depths and getting out of the vastness of the desert requires broad and many sided help from the Lord. Therefore this is what should be recognized, discerned and requested. There should also be a focus in prayer on the broader issues of the spirit and giving the Lord a broader canvass to attend to.

So it might be that you would ask for something specific, but also give the canvass of asking for an exciting, interesting and comforting year, relationships, job situations, and so on, to where you are giving the Lord a broader canvass to attend to. While this might seem arrogant in terms of prayer, it is still the more correct way to approach the Lord. It might be that someone may feel unworthy of full ranging and sweeping answers from the Lord and they feel if they can just squeak one prayer request through that might be all that they would deserve. But getting away from the wilderness to a full bloomed relationship with the Lord may involve a lot and you can ask for a lot.

Someone who is stressed might not only ask for immediate relief from the stress but for relaxed days, months and years ahead with regards to all possible sources and forms of stress in giving the Lord a broader range to attend to.

For someone who feels stagnant and stifled the broad prayer could be asking the Lord to bring your creative side alive through all of your dealings.

The idea of discernment and drawing near to the Lord may involve broader and more sweeping changes in how you approach the Lord in prayer in discerning his ongoing presence for you and thereby reaching into his everlasting goodness for you.

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