Psalms 38:1 «A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. » O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. _A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance_] Made purposely for a memorial, both of what he had suffered and from what he had been delivered. See 1Ch 16:4 Exo 30:... [ Continue Reading ]
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. Ver. 2. _For thine arrows stick fast in me_] _i.e._ Sicknesses of body and troubles of mind, Job 6:4 Psalms 18:14. The Jewish doctors say, that he had a leprosy for six months; and that the Divine presence was taken away from him; so... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Psalms 38:3 _[There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my sin._ Ver. 3. _There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger_] This was the immediate cause of David's misery, it came from love displeased; and scandalous s... [ Continue Reading ]
For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Ver. 4. _For mine iniquities are gone over my head_] So that I am even overwhelmed by them, and almost drowned in perdition and destruction. _Sicut aquae praevalentes in quibus erat absorptus_ (Kimchi). The g... [ Continue Reading ]
My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of my foolishness. Ver. 5. _My wounds stink and are corrupt_] What his grief or disease was we read not; some say the leprosy; some take all this allegorically. The word rendered wounds, signifieth stripes, scars, wales, _Livores vibices tumices,_ mattery s... [ Continue Reading ]
I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. Ver. 6. I am troubled (Heb. wryed;) I am bowed down, &c.] _Incurvus et prorsus obstipus, atroque vultu squallidus, vix corpus traho,_ I am a pitiful poor creature, and in a most heavy condition, as appeareth by my gait, my gest... [ Continue Reading ]
For my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]: and [there is] no soundness in my flesh. Ver. 7. _For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease_] The loins, those scats of lust, are now grievously inflamed and pained with some imposthumated matter or pestilential carbuncle: _Morbo vilissimo... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart._ Ver. 8. _I am feeble and sore broken_] Through the length and nature of my distemper, Isaiah 38:10; Isaiah 38:12. The same Hebrew word signifieth pining sickness and a thrum, because of the thinness and weakness... [ Continue Reading ]
Lord, all my desire [is] before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. Ver. 9. _Lord, all my desire is before thee_] Confused desires, broken requests, if from a broken spirit, are upon the file of heaven, and stand before God till they may have an answer. _ And my groaning is not hid from th... [ Continue Reading ]
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. Ver. 10. _My heart panteth_] Heb. runneth about, or is tossed to and fro, _circuivit cor meum, inordinate movetur, et non quiescit,_ saith Aben Ezra. The Hebrew word signifieth such a kind of motion as... [ Continue Reading ]
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. Ver. 11. _My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore_] Heb. my stroke, which, therefore, some Jewish doctors will have to be the leprosy, which was noisome and contagious; and, therefore, by the law of God, non... [ Continue Reading ]
They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me]: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. Ver. 12. _They also that seek after my life_] That seek and would suck my blood. As his friends were slack to help him, so his foes were active to hurt h... [ Continue Reading ]
But I, as a deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth. Ver. 13. _But I, as a deaf man, heard not_] But possessed any soul in patience; in quietness and confidence was my strength, Isaiah 30:15. As they were masters of their tongues, so was I of mine ears. He that... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth [are] no reproofs. Ver. 14. _Thus I was as a man that heareth not_] He doubleth his speech, to show his holy pertinace in a prudent and patient silence, though greatly provoked. David was, as it is reported of Severus, the emperor, επιμελης τ... [ Continue Reading ]
_For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God._ Ver. 15. _For in thee, O Lord, do I hope_] This was the ground of his patience, and differenced it from that of heathens, which was rather pertinace than patience, and came not from a right principle. _ Thou wilt hear_] Or answer; an... [ Continue Reading ]
For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me. Ver. 16. _For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise, &c._] He spread their vile speeches before the Lord, as afterwards good Hezekiah did Rabshakeh's letter; and as it was sai... [ Continue Reading ]
For I [am] ready to halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me. Ver. 17. _For I am ready to halt_] _i.e._ To misbehave mysetf and so to mar a good cause by ill-managing it, and then what will become of thy great name? This is a very forcible motive to prevail with a jealous and just God. _ And... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. Ver. 18. _For I will declare mine iniquity_] To them that visit me in this disease, saith Aben Ezra, that they may pray for me, according to James 5:16; or rather to God, that he may pardon me and ease me. Or thus, When I declare, &c. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
But mine enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. Ver. 19. _Mine enemies are lively, &c._] _q.d._ It is nuts to them, and they soon compose comedies out of my tragedies, growing more insolent by mine afflictions, and upbraiding me with my sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is]. Ver. 20. _They also that render evil for good_] While they rejoice at my misery, who fasted for them in their adversity, Psalms 35:15 . _ Are mine adversaries_] Heb. They satanically hate me, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Ver. 21. _Forsake me not, O Lord_] This was that he most of all feared, spiritual desertion. So Jeremiah, Be not thou a terror unto me, O God; and then I care not what else can befall me. _ O my God, be not far from me_] Though my friends stand... [ Continue Reading ]
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Ver. 22. _Make haste to help me_] _Nam mora frangit etiam fortes,_ God oft delayeth, that he may set an edge on our desires; he holdeth us in request, that he may commend his blessings to us.... [ Continue Reading ]