I. “Author of the psalm” - The psalm purports to have been written by David, and there is no reason to doubt that it was composed by him. There is no tradition to the contrary, and there is nothing in the psalm inconsistent with such a supposition. II. “The title” - The psalm is said in the title to... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, REBUKE ME NOT IN THY WRATH - See the notes at Psalms 6:1, where the same language occurs, except in the change of a single Hebrew “word,” that is, “wrath,” though expressing the same idea. NEITHER CHASTEN ME IN THY HOT DISPLEASURE - See the notes at Psalms 6:1. The Hebrew in both is the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THINE ARROWS SLICK FAST IN ME - See the notes at Job 6:4. The word rendered “stick fast” - נחת _nâchath_ - means properly to go or come down; to descend; and the literal idea here would be, “thine arrows come down upon me.” It is not so much the idea of their “sticking fast” when in the wound o... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO SOUNDNESS IN MY FLESH - There is no sound place in my flesh; there is no part of my body that is free from disease. The word used here - מתם _m__e__thôm_ - occurs only in Judges 20:48, where it is rendered “men;” in Isaiah 1:6, and in this place, where it is rendered “soundness.” See th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MINE INIQUITIES ARE GONE OVER MINE HEAD - This is merely an enlargement of the idea suggested in the last verse - that his present sickness was to be traced to his sin, and that he was suffering the punishment for sin. The idea is here that his sins were very numerous and very aggravated. They h... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WOUNDS STINK - The word rendered “wounds” here means properly the swelling or wales produced by stripes. See the notes at Isaiah 1:6; notes at Isaiah 53:5. The meaning here is, that he was under chastisement for his sin; that the stripes or blows on account of it had not only left a mark and prod... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM TROUBLED - Margin, “wearied.” The Hebrew word means to bend, to curve; then, to be distorted, to writhe with pain, convulsions, and spasms. In Isaiah 21:3, the same word is rendered, “I was bowed down at the hearing of it;” that is, Sorrow so took hold of him, that at the intelligence he writhe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY BONES ARE FILLED WITH A LOATHSOME DISEASE - This would seem to indicate the seat of the disease, though not its nature. The word used here, according to Gesenius (Lexicon), properly denotes the internal muscles of the loins near the kidneys, to which the fat adheres. The word rendered “loaths... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM FEEBLE - The word used here means properly to be cold, or without warmth; and then, to be torpid or languid. Compare Genesis 45:26. Would not this be well represented by the idea of a “chill?” AND SORE BROKEN - This word means to break in pieces; to beat small; to crush; and then it may be use... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, ALL MY DESIRE IS BEFORE THEE - That is, Thou knowest all that I would ask or that I need. This is the expression of one who felt that his only hope was in God, and that He fully understood the case. There was no need of repeating the request. He was willing to leave the whole case with God. A... [ Continue Reading ]
MY HEART PANTETH - The word rendered “panteth,” in its original form, means properly to go about; to travel around; and then, to travel around as a merchant or pedlar, or for purposes of traffic: Genesis 23:16; Genesis 37:28; Genesis 42:34. Applied to the heart, as it is here, it means to move about... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LOVERS - See the notes at Psalms 31:11. The reference here is to those who professed to be his friends. AND MY FRIENDS - The word used here means properly an acquaintance, a companion, a friend, Job 2:11; Job 19:21; then, a lover, a friend, a neighbor. The phrase here would be synonymous with ou... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ALSO THAT SEEK AFTER MY LIFE - This was a new aggravation of his affliction, that those who were his enemies now sought to accomplish their purposes against him with better hopes of success, by taking advantage of his sickness. LAY SNARES FOR ME - On the meaning of this phrase, see the notes at... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I, AS A DEAF MAN, HEARD NOT - I was as if I had been deaf, and did not hear them or know what they were about. I took no notice of what they did anymore than if I had not heard them. That is, he did not reply to them; he did not become angry; he was as calm and patient as if they had said nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS I WAS AS A MAN THAT HEARETH NOT - The sentiment in the former verse is repeated here to show the greatness of his patience and forbearance, or to fix the attention on the fact that one who was so calumniated and wronged could bear it patiently. AND IN WHOSE MOUTH ARE NO REPROOFS - As a man who... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN THEE, O LORD, DO I HOPE - This shows the reason or ground of his patience. He committed his whole cause to God. He believed that God would take care of his reputation, and that he would vindicate him. See Psalms 37:5. He had no doubt that He would protect his character, and that, notwithstand... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SAID - This is the prayer to which he referred in the previous verse. He prayed that he might not be permitted to fall away under the influence of his sins and sufferings; that his faith might remain firm; that he might not be allowed to act so as to justify the accusations of his enemies, or... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM READY TO HALT - Margin, as in Hebrew, “for halting.” The word from which the word used here is derived means properly to lean on one side, and then to halt or limp. The meaning here is, that he was like one who was limping along, and who was ready to fall; that is, in the case here referred... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL DECLARE MINE INIQUITY - That is, he was not disposed to hide his sin. He would make no concealment of the fact that he regarded himself as a sinner. He admitted this to be true, and he admitted that his sin was the cause of all his troubles. It was the fact that he was a sinner that so pa... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MINE ENEMIES ARE LIVELY ... - DeWette renders this, “My enemies live and are strong.” The word translated “lively” - חיים _chayiym_ - means properly “living, being alive.” The literal translation would be, “My enemies, being alive, are strong.” The idea is, that while he was weak and apparently... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ALSO THAT RENDER EVIL FOR GOOD - They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who were now seeking his ruin had been formerly benefitted by him. They were persons who cherished no grateful recollection of favors bestowed on them, but who fo... [ Continue Reading ]
FORSAKE ME NOT, O LORD - That is, Do not leave me in my troubles, my sickness, my sorrow. Leave me not to die; leave me not to complain and dishonor thee; leave me not to the reproaches of my enemies. O MY GOD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME - See Psalms 35:22. Compare Psalms 10:1; Psalms 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME - Margin, as in Hebrew: “for my help.” This is an earnest prayer that God would come immediately to his rescue. O LORD MY SALVATION - See the notes at Psalms 27:1. The effect, therefore, of the trials that came upon the psalmist was to lead him to cry most earnestly to God. Tho... [ Continue Reading ]