_A.M. 2981. B.C. 1023._ In this, which is the first of those Psalms styled penitential, David being sick both in body and mind, because he had offended God, presents his misery before him, Psalms 6:1. Begs the return of his favour, Psalms 6:4. Assures himself of an answer of peace, Psalms 6:8. Tit... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord, rebuke me not_ That is, do not chasten or correct me, as the next clause explains it; _in thine anger_ With rigour or severity, as my sins deserve, but with gentleness and moderation, Jeremiah 10:24; or, in such a manner that the chastisement may not be the effect of thy strict justice, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have mercy upon me_ I plead not my merit, but thy free mercy; _for I am weak_ Or, _I languish;_ my body pines away, and my spirit fails through my excessive pains and troubles. _O Lord, heal me_ That is, the distempers of my soul and body, of both which the word רפא, _rapha_, is used; _for my bones... [ Continue Reading ]
_My soul is sore vexed_ Partly by sympathy with my body, and partly with the burden of my sins, and the sense of thine anger, and my own danger and misery. _O Lord, how long?_ Wilt thou suffer me to lie and languish in this condition? or, as the Chaldee paraphrast supplies the ellipses, _How long wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return_ Unto me, from whom thou hast withdrawn thy smiling countenance and helping hand. _Deliver my soul_ From guilt and fear; or preserve my life, for the word _soul_ often signifies life. David, and other pious men in those times, were much averse to, and afraid of death, partly because the mani... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the night_ Or, _every night_, as the margin renders כל לילה, _cal lailah; make I my bed to swim_ With tears, an hyperbole used also elsewhere. It well becomes the greatest spirits to be tender, and to relent under the tokens of God's displeasure. David, who could face Goliath himself, melts int... [ Continue Reading ]
_Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity_ With whom I am resolved not to associate or have any fellowship; and cease from opposing or molesting, or insulting, over me, or approaching me with designs of deceiving and betraying me, all ye my wicked enemies; desist from all your wicked contrivances... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let all mine enemies be ashamed_ Or, _they shall be ashamed_, of their vain confidence; and _sore vexed_ Because of their great and unexpected disappointment. _Let them return_ Namely, from their wicked ways, and from their hostile and malicious practices against me. Hebrew, ישׁבו, _jeshubu, they s... [ Continue Reading ]