The Book of Psalms
Psalm 38
Psalm XXXVIII · Vol. II, p. 1010
David moveth God to take compassion of his sad condition, confessing his sins to have been the cause of it.
A psalm of David, ato bring to remembrance.
1 O LORD, brebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
A.M. cir. 2983 or 2946. B.C. cir. 1021 or 1058.
a Ps.70. title.
b Ps.6.1. Je.10.24;30.11. Is.27.8; 54.8. La.3.32,33. Hab.3.2. He.12.5-11.
3 There is dno soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest1 in my bones because of my sin.
4 Fore mine iniquities2 are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
e Ezr.9.6. Ps.40.12; 69.1,2. La.1.14. Is.1.4. Job 7.20,21. Mat.11.28.
2 Here it is seen in what sense Christ confesses sin and iniquities, and calls them his own; they were his as a burden laid upon him, for 'the Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all.' 'He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,' Is.53.4. He 'bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' 1 Pe.2.24. See notes on Ps.25.2;32.5.—C.
5 Myg wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of my foolishness.
g Ps.73.14. Is.1.5,6. Mar.7.21,22.
8 Ij am feeble and sore broken: kI have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.3
j Ps.62.4;51.8,17. Is.38.13,14.
k Ps.32.3;22.1;77.1-9; 88.1-18. Job 3.24; 30.28. Is.59.11.
3 The psalmist manifestly speaks of bodily disease, which he traces to his own sin and folly. Divine chastisement was thus the means of bringing him as a humble suppliant to the throne of grace. Before he was afflicted he went astray; his afflictions were blessings, leading him to God and duty.—P.
9 LORD, lall my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
l Jn.1.48. Ps.6.3,6. Is.26.8,9. La.3.56. Ro.8.26,27.
10 Myn heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.4
12 Theyp also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 Butq I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
A.M. cir. 2983 or 2946. B.C. cir. 1021 or 1058.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.7
7 This description of the sufferer's silence exactly corresponds with the prophetic description of Christ, and constitutes a remarkable feature of that righteousness by which he magnified the law, and made it honourable, Is.42.19-21.—C.
16 Fors I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
19 Butv mine enemies are lively, and they are strong;4 and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 Theyx also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.5
Notes
Ver. 1. There is not on record such another memorial of affliction as we find presented in this psalm. The wrath and arrows of the Almighty—a body racked with disease and pain—an agonized spirit, the desertion of friends—the plottings and assaults of inveterate enemies—all concentrate upon one sufferer. And who is he that can sustain the assault? Surely this can be none but the 'Man of Sorrows,' whom 'it pleased the Lord to bruise.' C.
Ver. 12. Lay snares. This was fulfilled when the Pharisees and Herodians combined to entangle him in his speech, Mat. 22. 15-22; and when, as in Jn. 8. 6, they thought to ensnare him into a decision in favour of immorality, or into pronouncing a sentence of death, which they might construe into usurpation of the executive power. See also Lu. 6. 7. C.
Reflections.—How tremendous is even God's fatherly wrath! But how much more his awful judgment against the ungodly! Sin makes fearful work even in saints. But much more terrible is its effects in sinners! Yea, where real grace is, sin will be more painful and bitter than all the arrows, strokes, and wounds of trouble. And however painful the wounds and groans of the soul are, they are symptoms of life. It is hopeful when outward distempers make men to search out and bewail their sinful causes. But nothing is a more fatal sign than insensibility. No human strength can withstand God's afflicting hand. No sinews of brass, nor bones of iron, can resist the strokes of fierce disease. And often our worldly friends, who flutter around us in our prosperity, treacherously forsake us in our adversity. But what a comfort it is that we have a compassionate God to trust to, who knows and can cure our maladies! How many, how malicious and active, are the enemies of Christ and his saints! Their enmity at God himself and his image is the cause of their quarrel. So fixed is their hatred at godliness, that they abhor it though benefited by it. It is hard, but wise, to imitate Jesus Christ in calm composure under severe provocation;—in silently suffering and in overlooking manifold unkindness done to us. But to take notice of malicious and clamorous enemies is ordinarily to make evil worse. Hope in God will sufficiently support us against every oppression and injury. They who contentedly leave their cause with him shall never be disappointed nor want an advocate to plead for them; and the more sense we have of our offences against him, the greater will be our penitential grief and our patience under the provocation of men. Our blessed relation to him as our Friend, Saviour, and God, improved by the prayer of faith, will quickly bring him to our relief.