Psalm 38:9

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 38:9

Lord, all my desire is before thee ,.... To be delivered from his afflictions, to have a discovery and application of pardoning grace, and to have communion with his God: the desire of his soul was unto these things; and it was some satisfaction to him that it was before the Lord, and known unto him, before whom all things are naked and open; and my groaning is not hid from thee ; under the weight of his affliction, the burden of his sin, and which he expressed in prayer to the Lord,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 38:9

Lord, all my desire is before thee - I long for nothing so much as thy favor; and for this my heart is continually going out after thee. Instead of אדני Adonai , Lord, several of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. have יהוה Yehovah . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 38:9

Verse 9 9O Lord! thou knowest all my desire. He adds this, not so much in respect of God, as to strengthen himself in the hope of obtaining some alleviation of his trouble, and thus to animate himself to persevering prayer. It may be explained in a twofold sense, either as denoting his confident assurance that his prayers and groanings were heard by the Lord, or a simple declaration that he had poured out before God all his cares and troubles; but the meaning is substantially the same: for as... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:1-22

Thoughts in affliction. The preacher saith, "In the day of adversity consider" ( Ecclesiastes 7:14 ). We should "call to remembrance"— I. THE HAND OF GOD IN AFFLICTION . Our afflictions may be various, and have various causes. But we should look higher than mere human instrumentality, or the action of natural laws. We should acknowledge the hand of God ( Psalms 38:2 ). What a change this makes l It soothes our resentments. It calms our fears. God sees all. He knows... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 38:1-22

A fearful picture of the sufferings which a great sin can cause. Supposed to be one of David's penitential psalms. I. COMPLICATED MENTAL AND BODILY SUFFERING . ( Psalms 38:1-8 .) 1 . Dread of God ' s further anger. Guilt makes a man full of fear and apprehension ( Psalms 38:1 ). 2 . His sin was realized as an intolerable burden. ( Psalms 38:4 .) A load that he was unable to carry; or a great wave passing over his head and threatening to overwhelm him. 3... 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

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