HEADING. ‘A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.' Compare the same description in Psalms 70. The thought may be that he wanted to bring to God's remembrance the sufferers, whom He seems to have forgotten. Or it may refer to the fact that the Psalm would bring sinners to remembrance of their tru... [ Continue Reading ]
1). THE PSALMIST DESCRIBES THE CHASTENING THAT HE IS EXPERIENCING AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE HEINOUSNESS OF HIS SIN (PSALMS 38:1). He commences with a prayer that, while God may rebuke and chasten him as he deserves, He will not do it so much in anger as in grieved love (Psalms 38:1). He cannot bear the t... [ Continue Reading ]
My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness. I am pained and bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with burning, And there is no soundness in my flesh. I am faint and sore bruised, I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my hear... [ Continue Reading ]
2). HE LOOKS TO HIS SOVEREIGN LORD AMIDST EVEN THE DESERTION OF HIS FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES (PSALMS 38:9). Up to this point the Psalmist's emphasis has been on his own personal state. It is his state of heart that is the concern of his covenant God. But now he turns his thoughts outwards towards the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But I, as a deaf man, hear not, And I am as a dumb man who opens not his mouth. Yes, I am as a man who hears not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in you, O YHWH, do I hope, You will answer, O Lord my God.' But the Psalmist refuses to be alarmed. He is not concerned by their lies and d... [ Continue Reading ]
3). HE CALLS ON YHWH HIS LORD FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HIS ENEMIES IN VIEW OF HIS OWN DEEP REPENTANCE AND HIS CONFIDENCE IN THE TRUE FAITHFULNESS TO HIM OF YHWH, HIS GOD AND LORD (PSALMS 38:15). As we have seen Psalms 38:15 concludes his previous thoughts and makes sense of them. But it also prepares th... [ Continue Reading ]