Psalm 38

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:17

For I am ready to halt . I am weak and helpless, liable at any moment to stumble and fall. And my sorrow is continually before me ; i.e. my sin, which I sorrow over, which lies at the root of all my distress (comp. Psalms 51:3 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:18

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. The four "fors," beginning four consecutive verses, are somewhat puzzling. Canon Cook suggests that they introduce four reasons for the psalmist's silence ( Psalms 38:13 , Psalms 38:14 ) and abstinence front self-justification: If we are justified in attributing the psalm to David, and in assigning its composition to the period immediately preceding Absalom's rebellion, we must look upon it as opening to us a view of David's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:19

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong . The psalmist goes back to the thought of his enemies, to whom he has made no answer, and whom he has not ventured to rebuke ( Psalms 38:13 , Psalms 38:14 ). He remembers that they are full of life and strength; he calls to mind the fact that they are many in number; he puts on record the cause of their enmity, which is not his sin, but his earnest endeavour to forsake his sin and follow after righteousness ( Psalms 38:20 ); and then,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:20

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries (comp. Psalms 35:12 ). Because I follow the thing that good is; literally, because I follow good. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:21

Forsake me not, O Lord (comp. Psalms 27:9 ; Psalms 71:9 , Psalms 71:18 ; Psalms 119:8 ). God never really forsakes his saints ( Psalms 37:28 ). He withdraws sometimes for wise purposes the sense of his presence and favour, so that they feel as if they were forsaken; but this is only temporary; O my God, be not far from me (comp. Psalms 22:19 ; Psalms 35:22 ; Psalms 71:12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:22

Make haste to help me, O Lord my Salvation (see Psalms 22:19 ; Psalms 31:2 ; Psalms 40:13 ; Psalms 70:1 ; Psalms 71:12 , etc.). This so frequent cry always shows imminent peril; or at any rate, a belief in it. The writer hero was in danger doubly—from disease and from his enemies. Thus he might well cry out. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38

I. “Author of the psalm” - The psalm purports to have been written by David, and there is no reason to doubt that it was composed by him. There is no tradition to the contrary, and there is nothing in the psalm inconsistent with such a supposition.II. “The title” - The psalm is said in the title to be designed “to bring to remembrance.” The same title occurs in Psalms 70:1-5, though there is no resemblance between the two, except that they both have reference to the attempts and purposes of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:1

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath - See the notes at Psalms 6:1, where the same language occurs, except in the change of a single Hebrew “word,” that is, “wrath,” though expressing the same idea.Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure - See the notes at Psalms 6:1. The Hebrew in both is the same, except that in this place the negative particle is omitted, but without affecting the sense. It is not improbable that the one was copied from the other, or that this was composed with the language... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:2

For thine arrows stick fast in me - See the notes at Job 6:4. The word rendered “stick fast” - נחת nâchath - means properly to go or come down; to descend; and the literal idea here would be, “thine arrows come down upon me.” It is not so much the idea of their “sticking fast” when in the wound or flesh; it is that they come down upon one, and pierce him. The meaning is, that he was afflicted “as if” God had wounded him with arrows - arrows which pierced deep in his flesh. Compare the notes at... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:3

There is no soundness in my flesh - There is no sound place in my flesh; there is no part of my body that is free from disease. The word used here - מתם methôm - occurs only in Judges 20:48, where it is rendered “men;” in Isaiah 1:6, and in this place, where it is rendered “soundness.” See the notes at Isaiah 1:6. It means that the body was wholly diseased; but what was the nature of the disease we are not informed. It would seem, however, that it was some cutaneous disease, or some disease... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:3

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