Psalm 38:1-12

Prayer for Relief from a Burden of Guilt

A psalm of David, to bring to remembrance, to remind God of His great mercy toward poor sinners, the hymn probably being intended for that part of worship when the meat-offering was added to the sacrifice, for its sweet savor was to rise to Yahweh with the prayer of the faithful.

V. 1, O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath, although, as David knew, he well deserved it; neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure, with the full rigor of divine justice.

V. 2. For Thine arrows stick fast in me, the arrows of God's anger having sunk into his flesh, and Thy hand presseth me sore, in the misfortune or in the dread which was oppressing him. V. 3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine anger, his body being ill in consequence of Yahweh's indignation over his sins; neither is there any rest in my bones, no proper health and peace, because of my sin, the results of which affected both body and mind with their afflictions.

V. 4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head, passing over him like an overwhelming flood; as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me, the burden bearing down upon his conscience exceeding his strength.

V. 5. My wounds, the bruises which he, figuratively, bore by reason of his sins, stink and are corrupt, not only having an evil odor, but also running like an open, festering sore, because of my foolishness, this designation being chosen since all sin is folly and self-destruction.

V. 6. I am troubled, bent over with the disease of his soul; I am bowed down greatly, as with a sickness which contracts the body in writhing pains; I go mourning all the day long, literally, “squalid,” black with filth, on account of the ashes and the soiled garments indicating his mourning.

V. 7. For my loins, usually representing robust strength, are filled with a loathsome disease, full of dry burning, as if gangrene were setting in; and there is no soundness in my flesh, all his former health had left him.

V. 8. I am feeble and sore broken, chilled, benumbed, and utterly crushed; I have roared, with loud sighs and cries, by reason of the disquietness of my heart, which caused his lips to groan and moan.

V. 9. Lord, all my desire is before Thee, Jehovah knows the longing which the sufferer feels in the midst of his misery; and my groaning is not hid from Thee. David refers to this fact in order to stimulate the mercy of the Lord.

V. 10. My heart panteth, palpitating from violent agitation, as if barely surviving the trouble, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, the strength of his vision, it also is gone from me, this condition resulting from extreme weakness of the whole body.

V. 11. My lovers and my friends, those whose acquaintance and friendship he valued, stand aloof from my sore, on account of the stroke, or plague, which the Lord had laid upon him; and my kinsmen stand afar off, deserting him in this extremity.

V. 12. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me, taking this opportunity when he is in trouble to show their spite; and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, planning his destruction, and imagine deceits, meditating upon malicious tricks, all the day long.