“Friends and companions shun my plague” – reflectionsaround the Psalm 38, 12-23

Abstract

The second part of the Psalm 38 namely verses 12-21, deals with the social consequences of a physical illness that, according to the point of view of that time, could have been caused by a sin. The sickness keeps away friends and fellows. At the same time it gives a chance to the adversaries and enemies to take advantages against the sick person, both socially – through slander – as financially, exploring him and perhaps even taking all his goods from him. The reaction of the diseased is silence and confidence in God.