Psalms 38:1-22

This Ps. may be compared with Psalms 6. It is the prayer of one who, like Job, is in great bodily suffering (Psalms 38:1), and is also deserted by his friends (Psalms 38:11), and beset by treacherous enemies (Psalms 38:12; Psalms 38:19). He is conscious that his trouble is due to bis sin (Psalms 38:4; Psalms 38:18), and appeals trustfully to God for pardon, healing, and deliverance. The description of personal suffering is too minute for a purely national Ps. It has been suggested that the author, if not David, may have been Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 20). This is another of the Pss. for Ash Wednesday.

Title.—The phrase 'to bring to remembrance' probably indicates that the Ps. was used in connexion with the offering of the 'memorial' of incense (Isaiah 66:3 mg), or of the shewbread with incense (Leviticus 24:7), or of the meat offering with incense (Leviticus 2:2).