10 My heart H3820 panteth, H5503 my strength H3581 faileth H5800 me: as for the light H216 of mine eyes, H5869 it H1992 also is gone H369 from me.
But Jonathan H3129 heard H8085 not when his father H1 charged H7650 the people H5971 with the oath: H7650 wherefore he put forth H7971 the end H7097 of the rod H4294 that was in his hand, H3027 and dipped H2881 it in an honeycomb, H3295 H1706 and put H7725 his hand H3027 to his mouth; H6310 and his eyes H5869 were enlightened. H215 Then answered H6030 one H376 of the people, H5971 and said, H559 Thy father H1 straitly H7650 charged H7650 the people H5971 with an oath, H7650 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that eateth H398 any food H3899 this day. H3117 And the people H5971 were faint. H5774 Then said H559 Jonathan, H3129 My father H1 hath troubled H5916 the land: H776 see, H7200 I pray you, how mine eyes H5869 have been enlightened, H215 because I tasted H2938 a little H4592 of this honey. H1706
CAPH. My soul H5315 fainteth H3615 for thy salvation: H8668 but I hope H3176 in thy word. H1697 Mine eyes H5869 fail H3615 for thy word, H565 saying, H559 When wilt thou comfort H5162 me? For I am become like a bottle H4997 in the smoke; H7008 yet do I not forget H7911 thy statutes. H2706
Therefore is my spirit H7307 overwhelmed H5848 within me; my heart H3820 within H8432 me is desolate. H8074 I remember H2142 the days H3117 of old; H6924 I meditate H1897 on all thy works; H6467 I muse H7878 on the work H4639 of thy hands. H3027 I stretch forth H6566 my hands H3027 unto thee: my soul H5315 thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty H5889 land. H776 Selah. H5542 Hear H6030 me speedily, H4118 O LORD: H3068 my spirit H7307 faileth: H3615 hide H5641 not thy face H6440 from me, lest I be like H4911 unto them that go down H3381 into the pit. H953
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 38
Commentary on Psalms 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 38
Ps 38:1-22. To bring to remembrance, or, remind God of His mercy and himself of his sin. Appealing to God for relief from His heavy chastisement, the Psalmist avows his integrity before men, complains of the defection of friends and persecution of enemies, and in a submissive spirit, casting himself on God, with penitent confession he pleads God's covenant relation and his innocence of the charges of his enemies, and prays for divine comfort and help.
1-4. He deprecates deserved punishment, which is described (Ps 6:1), under the figure of bodily disease [Ps 38:3].
2. arrows … and thy hand—the sharp and heavy afflictions he suffered (De 32:23).
4. iniquities—afflictions in punishment of sin (2Sa 16:12; Ps 31:10; 40:12).
gone over mine head—as a flood.
5-8. The loathsomeness, corruption, and wasting torture of severe physical disease set forth his mental anguish [Ps 38:6]. It is possible some bodily disease was connected. The
loins are the seat of strength. His exhaustion left him only the power to groan [Ps 38:9].
9. That God can hear (Ro 8:26).
10. My heart panteth—as if barely surviving.
light … from me—utter exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 13:3).
11, 12. Friends desert, but foes increase in malignity.
12. seek after my life—(1Sa 20:1; 22:23).
13, 14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies (Joh 19:9) to their insulting speeches;
15-17. for he is confident the
Lord—literally, "Sovereign" (to whom he was a servant), would answer his prayer (Ps 3:4; 4:1), and not permit their triumph in his partial halting, of which he was in danger.
18. Consciousness of sin makes suffering pungent, and suffering, rightly received, leads to confession.
19, 20. Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.
enemies are lively—literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.
21, 22. (Compare Ps 22:19; 35:3). All terms of frequent use. In this Psalm the language is generally susceptible of application to Christ as a sufferer, David, as such, typifying Him. This does not require us to apply the confessions of sin, but only the pains or penalties which He bore for us.