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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 6:2

Verse 2 2.Have mercy upon me. As he earnestly calls upon God to be merciful to him, it is from this the more clearly manifest, that by the terms anger and indignation he did not mean cruelty or undue severity, but only such judgment as God executes upon the reprobate, whom he does not spare in mercy as he does his own children. If he had complained of being unjustly and too severely punished, he would now have only added something to this effect: Restrain thyself, that in punishing me thou... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 6:3

Verse 3 3.And thou, O Jehovah, how long? This elliptical form of expression serves to express more strongly the vehemence of grief, which not only holds the minds of men bound up, but likewise their tongues, breaking and cutting short their speech in the middle of the sentence. The meaning, however, in this abrupt expression is doubtful. Some, to complete the sentence, supply the words, Wilt thou afflict me, or continue to chasten me ? Others read, How long wilt thou delay thy mercy ? But what... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 6:4

Verse 4 4.Return, O Lord. In the preceding verses the Psalmist bewailed the absence of God, and now he earnestly requests the tokens of his presence, for our happiness consists in this, that we are the objects of the Divine regard, but we think he is alienated front us, if he does not give us some substantial evidence of his care for us. That David was at this time in the utmost peril, we gather from these words, in which he prays both for the deliverance of his soul, as it were, from the jaws... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger . The psalmist begins by deprecating God's wrath and displeasure. He is conscious of some grievous sin, deserving rebuke and chastisement, and he does not ask to be spared his chastisement; but he would fain be chastised in love, not in anger (comp. Jeremiah 10:24 , "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing "). Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure ; or, in thy wrath. In its primary sense, humah ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1-10

The moan of a saint, and the mercy of his God. For the significance of the title of this psalm, see the Exposition. An expositor well remarks that the confessed uncertainty on the part of the best Hebrew scholars as to the meaning or many of the titles is a striking proof of their antiquity, since it shows that the clue thereto is lost in oblivion. This psalm belongs to those specified under the first head of our introductory homily, as one of those in which we have the strugglings and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1-10

A cry to God, and its response. I. THE CRY OF THE FAINTING SOUL . Circumstances are adverse. There is gloom without and within. Conscience accuses. God seems full of wrath. Death is regarded, not as a release, but as the minister of judgment; and the grave, not as a quiet resting-place, but as a "pit," loathsome and terrible. Amidst the darkness, and with fears on every side: 1 . God ' s indignation is deprecated . Affliction is hard to bear; but with God's wrath it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1-10

Night and morning in the soul. I. NIGHT . There is darkness. God hides himself. There is dreariness. The soul is left alone with sad and distressing thoughts. There is depression. The ghosts of past misdeeds rise up. There are nameless terrors. But though perplexed, there need not be despair. God is near. He can help. He can even give songs in the night. II. MORNING . Light comes, bringing hope and peace. God has beard the cry of his child. Such deliverances are comforting. They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1-10

Great afflictions, greater consolation. The language m this psalm may seem exaggerated and unreal. But it is not so. Want of imagination and sympathy in some, and want of experience in others, make them unfit judges. We neither know our strength nor our weakness till we are tried. The man who may have stood up to help others in their troubles may be cast down and disconsolate when visited with trouble himself ( Job 4:3-5 ). Learn— I. THAT THERE ARE WORSE AFFLICTIONS THAN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 6:1-10

Deliverance from sore trouble. "In the malice of his enemies David sees the rod of God's chastisement, and, therefore makes his prayer to God for deliverance. The struggle has lasted so long, the grief is so bitter, that his health has given way, and he has been brought to the gates of the grave. But ere long light and peace visit him, and he breaks forth into the joy of thanksgiving." I. A PICTURE OF COMPLICATED DISTRESS . 1 . Danger from outward foes. Producing constant... read more

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