◄ Psalm 38:20 ►
Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.
Study Bible
Those who repay my good with evil
This phrase captures the deep sense of betrayal and injustice experienced by the psalmist. The Hebrew root for "repay" is "shalam," which means to make amends or to recompense. In this context, it highlights the moral inversion where good deeds are met with malevolence. Historically, this reflects the experiences of many biblical figures, such as David, who often faced hostility despite his righteous actions. This phrase serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and the reality of living in a world where righteousness is not always rewarded by men, but it is always seen by God.

attack me
The Hebrew word for "attack" is "satam," which implies a deep-seated enmity or hostility. This is not a mere disagreement but an active pursuit of harm. In the biblical narrative, this reflects the spiritual warfare that believers face, where the forces of evil are constantly at odds with those who pursue righteousness. The psalmist's experience is a microcosm of the larger spiritual battle that Christians are called to endure, reminding believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite opposition.

for pursuing the good
The phrase "pursuing the good" is rooted in the Hebrew word "radaph," which means to chase or follow after. This indicates an active and intentional effort to seek what is morally right and pleasing to God. The psalmist's commitment to "the good" reflects a life dedicated to God's commandments and principles. In a broader scriptural context, this pursuit is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). This pursuit is not without its challenges, as it often sets the believer against the prevailing cultural norms and values, yet it is a pursuit that aligns with God's will and promises eternal reward.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 38, David is expressing his anguish and seeking God's help amidst his suffering and the betrayal he faces.

2. Enemies
The individuals who repay David's good deeds with evil actions, representing those who oppose righteousness.

3. God
The ultimate source of justice and refuge for David, to whom he cries out for deliverance.

4. Pursuit of Good
The righteous actions and intentions of David, which are met with hostility from his adversaries.

5. Betrayal
The central event where David's good intentions are met with evil, highlighting the theme of unjust suffering.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Unjust Suffering
Believers may face hostility even when pursuing righteousness. This is a common experience for those who follow God's ways.

Responding to Betrayal
Like David, we should turn to God in prayer and seek His justice rather than retaliating against those who wrong us.

Pursuing Good Despite Opposition
Continue to do good and trust in God's ultimate justice, even when faced with opposition or betrayal.

Trusting God's Justice
God sees the injustices we face and will ultimately vindicate those who pursue righteousness.

Loving Our Enemies
Following Christ's example, we are called to love and pray for those who oppose us, reflecting God's love and grace.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's experience in Psalm 38:20 reflect the challenges we face when pursuing righteousness in today's world?

2. In what ways can we apply Romans 12:21 to situations where we are repaid evil for good?

3. How can Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:44 help us respond to those who attack us for doing good?

4. What lessons can we learn from Joseph's account in Genesis 50:20 about God's purpose in the midst of betrayal?

5. How can we practically demonstrate love and forgiveness to those who repay our good with evil, as encouraged in 1 Peter 3:9?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 12:21
This verse encourages believers to overcome evil with good, aligning with David's experience of pursuing good despite opposition.

Matthew 5:44
Jesus teaches to love enemies and pray for those who persecute, reflecting David's situation of facing hostility for his righteousness.

1 Peter 3:9
This passage advises not to repay evil with evil, but with blessing, resonating with David's experience of being repaid evil for good.

Genesis 50:20
Joseph's account of being wronged by his brothers but ultimately seeing God's purpose, similar to David's trust in God's justice.

Proverbs 17:13
Warns against repaying good with evil, which aligns with the actions of David's adversaries.
Sermons
A Fearful Picture of the Sufferings Which a Great Sin Can CauseC. Short Psalm 38:1-22
Great Personal AfflictionHomilistPsalm 38:1-22
Sin Stinging Like an AdderC. Clemance Psalm 38:1-22
Things to be RememberedPsalm 38:1-22
Thoughts in AfflictionW. Forsyth Psalm 38:1-22
People
David, Jeduthun, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Accuse, Adversaries, Evil, Follow, Haters, Oppose, Paying, Pursue, Pursuing, Render, Repay, Slander
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 38:20

     5346   injury

Psalm 38:1-22

     5888   inferiority

Psalm 38:19-20

     5951   slander

Library
"Come unto Me, all Ye that Labour, and are Wearied," &C.
Matth. xi. 28.--"Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are wearied," &c. It is the great misery of Christians in this life, that they have such poor, narrow, and limited spirits, that are not fit to receive the truth of the gospel in its full comprehension; from whence manifold misapprehensions in judgment, and stumbling in practice proceed. The beauty and life of things consist in their entire union with one another, and in the conjunction of all their parts. Therefore it would not be a fit way …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Question Lxxxii of Devotion
I. Is Devotion a Special Kind of Act? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Meaning of the Term "Devotion" S. Augustine, Confessions, XIII. viii. 2 II. Is Devotion an Act of the Virtue of Religion? III. Is Contemplation, that is Meditation, the Cause of Devotion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Causes of Devotion " " On the Devotion of Women IV. Is Joy an Effect of Devotion? Cardinal Cajetan, On Melancholy S. Augustine, Confessions, II. x. I Is Devotion a Special Kind of Act? It is by our acts that we merit. But …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
Save me, O God, for the waters are come in even unto my soul: I am come into deep waters; so that the floods run over me.--Ps. lxix. 1, 2. I am brought into so great trouble and misery: that I go mourning all the day long.--Ps. xxxviii. 6. The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: Oh! bring Thou me out of my distress.--Ps. xxv. 17. The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping: the Lord will receive my prayer.--Ps. vi. 8. In the multitude of the sorrows which I had in my heart, Thy comforts have refreshed …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

Christ's Resurrection Song.
WHEN the blessed Lord appeared in the midst of His disciples and they beheld the risen One in His glorified body of flesh and bones and He ate before them, He told them that all things which were written in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Him, had to be fulfilled (Luke xxiv:44). While on the way to Emmaus He said to the two sorrowing and perplexed disciples "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Question Lxxxiii of Prayer
I. Is Prayer an Act of the Appetitive Powers? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer based on Friendship II. Is it Fitting to Pray? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer as a True Cause S. Augustine, On the Sermon on the Mount, II. iii. 14 " On the Gift of Perseverance, vii. 15 III. Is Prayer an Act of the Virtue of Religion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Humility of Prayer S. Augustine, On Psalm cii. 10 " Of the Gift of Perseverance, xvi. 39 IV. Ought We to Pray to God Alone? S. Augustine, Sermon, cxxvii. 2 V. …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

His Past Work.
His past work was accomplished by Him when he became incarnate. It was finished when He died on Calvary's cross. We have therefore to consider first of all these fundamentals of our faith. I. The Work of the Son of God is foreshadowed and predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures. II. The incarnation of the Son of God. III. His Work on the cross and what has been accomplished by it. I. Through the Old Testament Scriptures, God announced beforehand the work of His Son. This is a great theme and one …
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ

What Manner of Man Ought not to Come to Rule.
Wherefore let every one measure himself wisely, lest he venture to assume a place of rule, while in himself vice still reigns unto condemnation; lest one whom his own guilt depraves desire to become an intercessor for the faults of others. For on this account it is said to Moses by the supernal voice, Speak unto Aaron; Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, he shall not offer loaves of bread to the Lord his God (Lev. xxi. 17). And it is also immediately subjoined; …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness, Suffering
Text: 1 Peter 5, 5-11. 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom withstand stedfast …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Cæsarius of Arles.
He was born in the district of Chalons-sur-Saone, A. D. 470. He seems to have been early awakened, by a pious education, to vital Christianity. When he was between seven and eight years old, it would often happen that he would give a portion of his clothes to the poor whom he met, and would say, when he came home, that he had been, constrained to do so. When yet a youth, he entered the celebrated convent on the island of Lerins, (Lerina,) in Provence, from which a spirit of deep and practical piety …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Christian Meekness
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth Matthew 5:5 We are now got to the third step leading in the way to blessedness, Christian meekness. Blessed are the meek'. See how the Spirit of God adorns the hidden man of the heart, with multiplicity of graces! The workmanship of the Holy Ghost is not only curious, but various. It makes the heart meek, pure, peaceable etc. The graces therefore are compared to needlework, which is different and various in its flowers and colours (Psalm 45:14). …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Notes on the Third Century
Page 161. Line 1. He must be born again, &c. This is a compound citation from John iii. 3, and Mark x. 15, in the order named. Page 182. Line 17. For all things should work together, &c. See Romans viii. 28. Page 184. Lines 10-11. Being Satan is able, &c. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Page 184. Last line. Like a sparrow, &c. Psalm cii. Page 187. Line 1. Mechanisms. This word is, in the original MS., mechanicismes.' Page 187. Line 7. Like the King's daughter, &c. Psalm xlv. 14. Page 188. Med. 39. The best …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 38:20 NIV
Psalm 38:20 NLT
Psalm 38:20 ESV
Psalm 38:20 NASB
Psalm 38:20 KJV

Psalm 38:20 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 38:19
Top of Page
Top of Page