PSALM XXXVIII _David prays God to have mercy upon him, and gives a most_ _affecting account of his miserable state_, 1-10; _complains of his being forsaken by his friends, and cruelly_ _persecuted by his enemies_, 11-16; _confesses his sin; and earnestly implores help_, 17-22. NOTES ON PSALM X... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:2. _THINE ARROWS STICK FAST IN ME_] This no doubt, refers to the _acute pains_ which he endured; each appearing to his feeling as if an arrow were shot into his body.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:3. _NO SOUNDNESS IN MY FLESH_] This seems to refer to some _disorder_ which so affected the _muscles_ as to produce _sores_ and _ulcers_; and so affected his _bones_ as to leave him no peace nor rest. In short, he was completely and thoroughly diseased; and all this he attributes to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:4. _MINE INIQUITIES ARE GONE OVER MINE HEAD_] He represents himself as one sinking in _deep waters_, or as one oppressed by a _burden_ to which his strength was unequal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:5. _MY WOUNDS STINK_ AND _ARE CORRUPT_] Taking this in connection with the rest of the Psalm, I do not see that we can understand the word in any _figurative_ or _metaphorical_ way. I believe they refer to _some disease_ with which he was at this time afflicted; but whether the _lepr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:6. _I AM TROUBLED_] In mind. _I am bowed down _- in body. I am altogether afflicted, and full of distress.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:7. _FOR MY LOINS ARE FILLED WITH A LOATHSOME_ DISEASE] Or rather, a _burning_; נקלה nikleh, from קלה _kalah_, to _fry,_ _scorch_, c., hence נקלה _nikleh, a burning_, or _strongly feverish_ _disease_. THERE IS _NO SOUNDNESS IN MY FLESH._] All _without_ and all _within_ bears evidence... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:8. _I AM FEEBLE AND SORE BROKEN_] I am so exhausted with my disease that I feel as if on the brink of the grave, and unfit to appear before God; therefore "have I roared for the disquietness of my heart." That David describes a _natural disease_ here cannot reasonably be doubted; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:9. _LORD, ALL MY DESIRE_ IS _BEFORE THEE_] I long for nothing so much as thy favour; and for this my heart is continually going out after thee. Instead of אדני _Adonai, Lord_, several of Dr. _Kennicott's_ MSS. have יהוה_Yehovah_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:10. _MY HEART PANTETH_] סחרחר _secharchar, flutters,_ _palpitates_, through fear and alarm. _MY STRENGTH FAILETH_] Not being able to take nourishment. _THE LIGHT OF MINE EYES - IS GONE_] I can scarcely discern any thing through the general decay of my health and vigour, particularl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:11. _MY LOVERS_] Those who professed much affection for me; my friends, רעי _reai_, my _companions_, who never before left my company, _stand aloof_. _MY KINSMEN_] קרובי _kerobai_, my _neighbours_, stand afar off. I am deserted by all, and they stand off because of נגעי _nigi_, my _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:12. _THEY ALSO THAT SEEK AFTER MY LIFE_] They act towards me as _huntsmen_ after their prey; _they lay snares to take away my_ _life_. Perhaps this means only that they _wished_ for his death, and would have been glad to have had it in their power to end his days. Others _spoke all m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:13. _BUT I, AS A DEAF_ MAN] I was conscious of my guilt, I could not vindicate myself; and I was obliged in silence to bear their insults.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:14. _NO REPROOFS._] תוכחות _tochachoth, arguments_ or _vindications_; a forensic term. I was as a man accused in open court, and I could make no _defence_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:15. _IN THEE, O LORD, DO I HOPE_] I have no helper but thee. _THOU WILT HEAR, O LORD MY GOD._] Thou art eternal in thy compassions, and wilt hear the prayer of a penitent soul. In the printed copies of the Hebrew text we have אדני אלהי _Adonai Elohai,_ _Lord my God_; but, instead of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:16. _WHEN MY FOOT SLIPPETH_] They watched for my halting; and when my foot slipped, they rejoiced that I had fallen into sin!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:17. _FOR I_ AM _READY TO HALT_] Literally, _I am prepared to_ _halt_. So completely infirm is my soul, that it is impossible for me to take one right step in the way of righteousness, unless strengthened by thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:18. _I WILL DECLARE MINE INIQUITY_] I will confess it with the deepest humiliation and self-abasement.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:19. _BUT MINE ENEMIES_ ARE _LIVELY_] Instead of חיים _chaiyim, lively_, I would read חינם _chinam, without cause_; a change made by the half of one letter, נ _nun_ for a י _yod_. See the parallel places, Psalms 35:19; Psalms 79:5. See also the Preliminary Dissertation to Dr. _Lowth's... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:20. _BECAUSE L FOLLOW_ THE THING THAT _GOOD_ IS.] The translation is as bad as the sentence is awkward. תחת רדפי טוב _tachath rodpi tob, because I follow goodness_. There is a remarkable addition to this verse in the Arabic: "They have rejected me, the beloved one, as an abominable d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:21. _FORSAKE ME NOT, O LORD_] Though all have forsaken me, do not thou. _BE NOT FAR FROM ME_] Though my friends keep aloof, be thou near to help me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 38:22. _MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME_] I am dying; save, Lord, or I perish. Whoever carefully reads over this Psalm will see what a grievous and bitter thing it is to sin against the Lord, and especially to sin after having known his mercy, and after having escaped from the corruption that is... [ Continue Reading ]