38:1(A Psalm of David, to bring to a remembrance.) O LORD,
rebuke me not in thy b wrath: neither chasten me in thy
hot displeasure.
(a) To put himself and others in mind of God's chastisement
for sin.
(b) He desires not to be exempted from God's rod, but that
he would so moderate his hand, that he might be able to
bear it.
38:2 For thine c arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand
presseth me sore.
(c) Your sickness, with which you have visited me.
38:3 [There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;
neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my d
sin.
(d) David acknowledges God to be just in his punishments,
because his sins had deserved much more.
38:4 For mine e iniquities are gone over mine head: as an
heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
(e) He confesses his sins, God's justice, and makes prayer
his refuge.
38:5 My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of f my
foolishness.
(f) That rather gave place to my own lusts, than to the
will of God.
38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I g have roared by reason of
the disquietness of my heart.
(g) This example warns us never to despair, no matter how
great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure
trust for deliverance.
38:10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light
of mine eyes, h it also is gone from me.
(h) My sight fails me for sorrow.
38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my
i kinsmen stand afar off.
(i) Partly for fear and partly for pride, they denied all
duty and friendship.
38:13 But I, as a k deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a
dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.
(k) For I can have no audience before men, and therefore
patiently wait for the help of God.
38:16 For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should
rejoice over me: l when my foot slippeth, they magnify
[themselves] against me.
(l) That is, if they see that you do not help me in time,
they will mock and triumph as though you had forsaken
me.
38:17 For I [am] ready to m halt, and my sorrow [is]
continually before me.
(m) I am without hope to recover my strength.
38:19 But mine n enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong:
and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
(n) In my greatest misery they most rejoice.
38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries;
because I follow [the thing that] o good [is].
(o) He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than
fail in any part of his duty to God.
38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my p salvation.
(p) Who is the author of my salvation: and this declares
that he prayed with sure hope of deliverance.
