Psalm 38

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:14

Thus I was as a man that heareth not - The sentiment in the former verse is repeated here to show the greatness of his patience and forbearance, or to fix the attention on the fact that one who was so calumniated and wronged could bear it patiently.And in whose mouth are no reproofs - As a man who never reproved another; who, whatever might be the wrong which he endured, never replied to it; as he would be who was incapable of reproof, or who had no faculty for reproving. The whole of this is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:15

For in thee, O Lord, do I hope - This shows the reason or ground of his patience. He committed his whole cause to God. He believed that God would take care of his reputation, and that he would vindicate him. See Psalms 37:5-6. He had no doubt that He would protect his character, and that, notwithstanding the reproaches of his enemies, his true character would at last be made to shine forth, so that all men would see that he had been unjustly aspersed. The exact idea here is expressed, and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:16

For I said - This is the prayer to which he referred in the previous verse. He prayed that he might not be permitted to fall away under the influence of his sins and sufferings; that his faith might remain firm; that he might not be allowed to act so as to justify the accusations of his enemies, or to give them occasion to rejoice over his fall. The entire prayer Psalms 38:16-18 is one that is based on the consciousness of his own weakness, and his liability to sin, if left to himself; on the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:17

For I am ready to halt - Margin, as in Hebrew, “for halting.” The word from which the word used here is derived means properly to lean on one side, and then to halt or limp. The meaning here is, that he was like one who was limping along, and who was ready to fall; that is, in the case here referred to, he felt that his strength was almost gone, and that he was in continual danger of falling into sin, or sinking under his accumulated burdens, and of thus giving occasion for all that his enemies... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:18

For I will declare mine iniquity - That is, he was not disposed to hide his sin. He would make no concealment of the fact that he regarded himself as a sinner. He admitted this to be true, and he admitted that his sin was the cause of all his troubles. It was the fact that he was a sinner that so painfully affected his mind; and he was not disposed to attempt to conceal it from anyone.I will be sorry for my sin - I will not deny it; I will not apologize for it. I admit the truth of what my... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:19

But mine enemies are lively ... - DeWette renders this, “My enemies live and are strong.” The word translated “lively” - חיים chayiym - means properly “living, being alive.” The literal translation would be, “My enemies, being alive, are strong.” The idea is, that while he was weak and apparently near to death, they were in the full vigor of life and health. They were able to engage in active efforts to accomplish their purposes. They could take advantage of his weakness; and he could not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:20

They also that render evil for good - They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who were now seeking his ruin had been formerly benefitted by him. They were persons who cherished no grateful recollection of favors bestowed on them, but who found a pleasure in persecuting and wronging their benefactor. Compare Psalms 35:12-16. “Are my adversaries.” Are now opposed to me; have become my enemies.Because I follow the thing that good is -... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:21

Forsake me not, O Lord - That is, Do not leave me in my troubles, my sickness, my sorrow. Leave me not to die; leave me not to complain and dishonor thee; leave me not to the reproaches of my enemies.O my God, be not far from me - See Psalms 35:22. Compare Psalms 10:1; Psalms 13:1. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:22

Make haste to help me - Margin, as in Hebrew: “for my help.” This is an earnest prayer that God would come immediately to his rescue.O Lord my salvation - See the notes at Psalms 27:1. The effect, therefore, of the trials that came upon the psalmist was to lead him to cry most earnestly to God. Those sorrows led him to God. This is one of the designed effects of affliction. Trouble never accomplishes its proper effect unless it leads us to God; and anything that “will” lead us to him is a gain... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 38

A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042. Dr. Delaney, in the seventh chapter of the third book of his Life of David, has given it as his opinion that this Psalm, and the next three, were occasioned by a grievous distemper wherewith David was afflicted, and which he considered as the chastisement of God upon him for his sins. That this calamity fell upon him about the time that a dangerous and rebellious conspiracy was formed against him, he thinks, appears from the same Psalms. And, forasmuch as we hear of no... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 38:22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 38

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