I. MO VING APPEAL TO JEHO VAH (1). Commencing Prayer, "Rebuke me not." II. MANIFEST ASSOCIATION OF SIN AND SUFFERING (2-10). "for. " III. MEAN ACTION OF FRIENDS AND FOES (11-12). I V. MEEK ATTITUDE OF THE SUFFERER (13-16). 1. Silence Manward (13-14). 2. Confidence Godward (15-16). V. MANIFEST ASSOCIATION OF SIN AND SUFFERING (17-18). VI. MEAN ACTION OF FRIENDS AND FOES (19-20). VII. MO VING APPEAL TO JEHO VAH (21-22). Closing Prayer, "Forsake me not." SUPERSCRIPT.-A psalm of David to bring to remembrance. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. PRIMARY AssocrATION.-Third of the so-called "penitcntia1 " psalms. Written by David; historical occasion uncertain, but
probably the period of Absalom' s revolt. The sin referred to in the psalm may be the folly of indulging his children, ·which led to such dire consequences for himself, his family and the people generally, c£ 1 Kings i. 6. The two groups of Pss. xxxviii.-xli. and lxix.-lxxii. have much in common and seem to belong to a late period in David's reign. This psalm bears a cl9se relation to vi. and xxxix. Superscript, "to bring to remembrance," is prefixed also to lxx; s.H.w. is found, 1 Chron. xvi. 4, "celebrate." David's intention may be to remind God of His covenant promises, 2 Sam. vii. ( c£ Isa. xliii. 26; lxii. 6-7), or of His people's needs. Subscript, "For Jeduthun," appears again at the end of lxi. and lxxvi. This man was a Levite and chief singer and director of the temple music, see I Chron. ix. 16; xvi. 38 ff.; xxv. 1 ff.; 2 Chron. v. 12; xxix. 14; and Neh. xi. 17. He was at first called Ethan. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-By reason of their suffering in "the Tribulation" period, Israel's faithful ones (the remnant) are brought to a confession of sin and an acknowledgment that their punishment was justly inflicted by Jehovah. Recognising their utter help lessness and worthlessness, they cast then1selves upon Jehovah's mercy. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Our sins may be like an overwhelming flood and a crushing burden, but there is help in God (4). _Sin is essentially foolishness (5). While friends stand aloof, foes often draw near (11-12). While the righteous meditates wisdom (xxxvii. 30) his enemies "meditate" (s.H.w.) deceits (12). Consciousness of his own guilt (13) and recognition of divine chastening (xxxix. 9) keep the sorrowing saint silent. When in distress we need not despair (15). The sombre depth of repentant confession lead to the sunny heights of restored communion. Our kindred are not always kind (11). The fickleness of friends is often harder to endure than the fierceness of our foes (11). Sin necessarily involves suffering to the saint now, 1 Cor. xi. 32. Knowledge of some specific sin may co-exist with a consciousness of innocence in our actions towards ·men generally; 17-18 are not contradicted by 19-20. Let us be sincerely sorry fqr our sin (18). Anchor your soul in God; He will answer for you (15). The wicked rejoice at the guilt of the believer, but rage at his goodness (16, 20). Note: (a) Shadow of divine displeasure; (b) Sorrow of divine estrangen1ent; (c) Supplication of divine favour.
VERSE NOTES r. The emphasis is upon "in wrath" and "in hot displeasure." David desires God to deal with him, not in the character of an angry Judge, but as a loving Preceptor. 2. "arrows," a fig. for divine judgments in general, but more particularly here = pain and prostration. 3. Cf. Isa. i. 5, 6, oflsrael's condition nationally; "rest"= peace, or health. 5-10. Physical and mental sufferings graphically described. 6. Br. as margin. 8. "roared" = the utterance of sounds of distress. IO. (b) c£ vi. 7; xiii. 3 note. II. "my plague," or stroke; Hebrew word specifically used of leprosy. His friends treated him as a leper. 12. C£ Shimei's cursings, 2 Sam. xvi. 7-8. 14. He had nothing to say in his own defence. 15. "Thou (emph.) wilt answer," may be taken in the sense of "answer my prayer," or "answer for me" (to my detractors). The former sense, of course, involves the latter. 16. (b) c£ xxxv. 26. 18. "sorry" = troubled. 20. "good," that is, the good which he wrought towards them, cf. xxxv. 12-13. 21-22. "my God ... my salvation"; this closing appeal contains in itself the assurance of acceptance and answer.
This book has 150 chapters