Psalm 38:9-16 “Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. For I hope in you, LORD. You will answer, Lord my God. For I said, ‘Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.’ ”

When we are having difficulty, sometimes our friends and family stay away. Perhaps it’s because they believe our trouble is a just punishment for what we’re experiencing. It might be because they don’t know what to say or how to provide comfort. It might be because they don’t want to experience the trouble we’re having! Regardless, it hurts, especially when others who aren’t our friends are piling on. I think that it’s instructive here that David didn’t respond to those insults, but instead appealed to the one who could defend him.

1 Peter 2:23 “When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.”

For additional worship: Psalm 38 (You Will Answer) by The Psalms Project