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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 38:1-11

The title of this psalm is very observable; it is a psalm to bring to remembrance; the 70th psalm, which was likewise penned in a day of affliction, is so entitled. It is designed, 1. To bring to his own remembrance. We will suppose it penned when he was sick and in pain, and then it teaches us that times of sickness are times to bring to remembrance, to bring the sin to remembrance, for which God contended with us, to awaken our consciences to deal faithfully and plainly with us, and set our... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 38:12-22

In these verses, I. David complains of the power and malice of his enemies, who, it should seem, not only took occasion from the weakness of his body and the trouble of his mind to insult over him, but took advantage thence to do him a mischief. He has a great deal to say against them, which he humbly offers as a reason why God should appear for him, as Ps. 25:19; Consider my enemies. 1. ?They are very spiteful and cruel: They seek my hurt; nay, they seek after my life,? Ps. 38:12. That life... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 38:11

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore ,.... As if it was a plague sore, lest they should be infected with it; or because they could not bear the stench of his wounds, and the loathsomeness of his disease, or to see him in his agonies, and hear his roaring and his groans, Psalm 38:2 ; or as taking his case to be desperate, as if he was just dying, and no help could be given him, Psalm 38:10 ; If it was the leprosy, as some Jewish writers have affirmed, the word נגע ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 38:12

They also that seek after my life ,.... His avowed and implacable enemies, whom nothing would satisfy but the taking away of his life: these came too near him; for these, he says, lay snares for me , as Satan does for the souls of men, as the Jews did for Christ, and as wicked men do for the saints, Psalm 124:7 ; and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things ; to the injury of his character and reputation: and imagine deceits all the day long ; contrive artful schemes... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 neighbors, stand afar off. I am deserted by all, and they stand off because of נגעי nigi , my plague. They considered me as suffering under a Divine judgment; and, thinking me an accursed being, they avoided me lest they should be infected by my disease. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 manner of evil of him, and told falsities against him all the day long. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 38:11

Verse 11 11My friends and my companions stand away from my sore Here David enumerates other circumstances to show the aggravated character of his misery, that he might excite the compassion of God. One of these is, that he finds no help or solace among men. In saying that his friends stand away from him, he means, that they cease from performing any of the offices of humanity towards him. This might happen either from pride or fear. If they withdrew from this poor afflicted man because they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 38:12

Verse 12 12They also that sought for my life have laid snares for me, etc. . Here another circumstance is added, that the enemies of David laid snares for him, and talked about his destruction, and framed deceits among themselves. (54) The purport of what is stated is, that while his friends cowardly sit still and will do nothing to aid him, his enemies vigorously bestir themselves, and seek by every means to destroy him. He says that they seek his life, for as they were his deadly enemies and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:1-22

The psalm is ascribed to David by the title, but is not generally allowed to be his. It is assigned commonly to an unknown sufferer. Still, some modern critics, notably Canon Cook, in the 'Speaker's Commentary,' accept the statement of the title, and find the psalm very suitable to the circumstances of David "at the period just preceding the revolt of Absalom." Canon Cook holds that "at that time there are indications that David was prostrate by disease, which gave full scope to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:1-22

Sin stinging like an adder. This has been called one of the penitential psalms. It may be called so without any severe strain of language; and yet its penitential tone is very far removed from that of either the thirty-second or the fifty-first psalm. There is little doubt that there is a sincere acknowledgment of the sin; but here the main stress of the grief seems to be attributable rather to the suffering consequent upon the sin, than to the guilt of the sin itself. And we cannot... read more

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