Psalm 38

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:8

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart . In concluding his accounts of his physical condition, the writer passes from details to more vague and general statements. He is "feeble," i.e. generally weak and wanting in vigour—he is "sore broken," or "sore bruised" (Revised Version), i.e. full of aches and pains, as though he had been bruised all over—and the "disquietness of his heart" causes him to vent his anguish in "roarings," or groanings. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:9

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. This has been called "the first indication of hope in this psalm;" but there is a gleam of hope in the prayer of Psalms 38:1 . Hope, however, does here show itself more plainly than before. The psalmist has laid "all his desire" before God, and feels that God is weighing and considering it. He has also opened to him "all his groanings"—uttered freely all his complaint. This he could have been led to do only from a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:9-14

In this second strophe the physical are subordinated to the moral sufferings; the former being touched on in one verse only ( Psalms 38:10 ), the latter occupying the rest of the section. Of these the most tangible are the pain caused by the desertion of his "lovers," "friends," and "kinsmen" ( Psalms 38:11 ), and the alarm arising from the action taken, simultaneously, by his ill wishers and adversaries ( Psalms 38:12 ). These afflictions have reduced him to a condition of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:10

My heart panteth . This verse, which reverts to the bodily sufferings, seems a little out of place. But Hebrew poetry is not logical, and cares little for exact arrangement. Three more bodily troubles are noticed, of which this is the first—the heart "pants," i.e. throbs, or palpitates violently. My strength faileth me. The strength suddenly fails. As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. The sight swims, and is swallowed up in darkness (comp. Job 17:7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:11

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore ; or, from my stroke (comp. Psalms 39:10 , where the same word is used). The psalmist feels himself to be "stricken, smitten of God" ( Isaiah 53:4 ). He looks for comfort and sympathy to his friends, but they, with a selfishness that is only too common, hold aloof, draw away item him, and desert him (comp. Job 19:13 , Job 19:14 ). And my kinsmen stand afar off ; or, my neighbours. The stricken deer is forsaken by the rest of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:12

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me . To the desertion of friends is added the persecution of enemies, who take advantage of the debility and prostration caused by sickness to plot against the writer's life, to "lay snares for him," and devise evil against him. Those who assign the psalm to David suppose the devices described in 2 Samuel 15:1-6 to he referred to. And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long ; literally, speak... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:13

But I, as a deaf man, heard not . I took no notice, i.e. I made as if I was deaf. And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth . So far this psalmist, whether David or another, was a type of Christ (see Isaiah 53:7 ; Matthew 26:63 ; Matthew 27:14 ; 1 Peter 2:23 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:14

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs ; i.e. I was like a man who is unable to answer, to reprove, or rebuke an adversary. So great was my self-restraint. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:15

For in thee, O Lord, do I hope. Thus I acted, because my hope was in thee. I looked for thy interposition. I knew that thou wouldst "maintain my right, and my cause" ( Psalms 9:4 ) in thine own good time and in thine own good way. I said to myself in my heart, Thou wilt hear —or rather, thou wilt answer (Revised Version)— O Lord my God; and I was content to leave my defence to thee. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:16

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me; rather, for I said , I will be silent , lest otherwise they should rejoice over me. I feared lest by answering rashly or intemperately I might give my enemies occasion against me. I knew by experience that , when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. They are always on the watch to catch at any slip on my part, and make it a ground for magnifying themselves and denying me. Hence my silence. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:9-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:16

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