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Psalm 38:9-12

Psalm 38:9 Master, my every desire is in front of you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 38:10 My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

Psalm 38:11 My loved ones and friends stand back due to my affliction, and my relatives stand at a distance.

Psalm 38:12 Those who intend to kill my soul set traps, and those who want to harm me spoke out to destroy me; they plot treachery all day long.

full disclosure

The misery the psalmist had expressed in yesterday’s section (3-8) is now repeated as another prayer to God. Why do this? It is not that God does not know what is going on. Verse nine makes that clear. But notice that God is being addressed as master. The servant turns to the master for help, because only the master is empowered to help.

In the same way, we have to get over our awareness of God’s omniscience, and learn to regularly come to him in prayer. Recounting what is going on in our lives is more than just therapy. It is an expression of faith. God can read the hidden sighs, but he wants us to come with him with full disclosure anyway. When we confess not only our failures but also our needs, we are inviting him to be our rescuer.

Master, Our sighing is not hidden from you. Come and rescue us!