Ps. 39 THE ARGUMENT This is reckoned one of David’s penitential Psalms. It was composed upon occasion of some sore disease, or grievous calamity; which he rightly judged to be inflicted upon him for his sins. Either, 1.

I confess I both deserve chastisement and need it, and therefore I desire not that thou wouldst remove it, but only moderate it. See the same expression Ps. 6:1.

Thine arrows, i.e. thy judgments inflicted upon my outward and inward man, oft compared to arrows, as Deut. 32:23, Ps. 7:13, Ps. 45:5, Ps. 91:5. Presseth me sore; or, comes down upon me; as when a strong man lifts up his hand and weapon, that it may fall down with greater violence, and make the…

My disease or grief hath seized upon all the parts of my body, my very bones not excepted, so that my bed can give me no rest; because of my sin, which hath provoked thee to deal, thus severely with me.

Mine iniquities; or, the punishment of mine iniquities, as this word is frequently used; which best agrees both with the foregoing and following verses, and with the metaphor here used; which in other places of Scripture is generally applied to afflictions, and not to sins.

The bruises and sores caused by my disease are not only painful, but loathsome to myself and to others. Foolishnss, i.e. sin, which really is, and is commonly called, folly, as Ps. 69:5, Prov. 13:16, Prov. 14:17, Prov. 15:2;c.

Troubled, Heb. distorted, or depressed; or, as it is expressed by another word, signifying the same thing, bowed down, to wit, in my body, as diseased persons commonly are, and withal dejected in my mind. I go mourning, Heb.

Or, with filthiness; or, with scorching heat. The disease might be some burning fever, being also malignant or pestilential, either burning inwardly, or breaking forth outwardly in carbuncles or boils.

Roared, like a bear or a lion, through extreme pain and misery. By reason of the disquietness of my heart; for the great anxiety and torment of my mind, caused by the deep sense of my sins, and of God’s wrath, and of the sad issue of my disease; which being added to my bodily pains, makes them more…

I do not utter all these complaints, nor roar out, that thou mayst hear and know them, for thou hearest and knowest even my lowest groans; yea, mine inward desires, and all my necessities. And therefore, I pray thee, pity and deliver me, as I trust thou wilt do.

Panteth; or, goes round; wanders hither and thither, as the word signifies; is perplexed and tossed with many and various thoughts, not knowing what to do, nor whither to go. Mine eyes are grown dim; either through grief and tears, as Ps. 6:7; or through weakness, as 1 Sam. 14:28–29.

Either through neglect, and contempt, or disdain of me; or through delicacy and abhorrency from loathsome and sadding spectacles; or through fear of infection, or some other inconveniences.

Lay snares for me; that if my disease do not kill me, they may destroy me some other way. Imagine deceits; they design mischief, but cover it with fair pretences.

I carried myself towards them as if I had no ears to hear what they said either to me or for me, nor a tongue to answer or reprove them for their reproaches and calumnies; which he did not for, want of just answers to them, but to testify his humiliation for his sins, and his patient submission to…

Or arguments, to convince or confute them, or to defend myself.

I bore their carriage silently and patiently, because I hoped and knew that thou wouldst answer for me, and plead my cause better than myself; which I would not prevent by my impatience, and avenging myself. Or, but in thee do I hope, i.e.

I said, to wit, in my heart and prayers; I used this argument, which I knew was prevalent. Rejoice over me in my destruction, which also will reflect upon thee; who hast undertaken to defend and save me, and for whose sake I suffer so much from these wicked men, Ps. 38:20.

Ready to halt; just falling into utter destruction; see Jer. 20:10; and therefore if thou dost not help me speedily, it will be too late. My sorrow is continually before me; I am deeply and constantly sensible of thy just hand, and of my sins, the cause of it; wherewith I shall be overwhelmed, if…

Declare mine iniquity; either to thee; or publicly to the world, because my sin hath been public and scandalous. I will be sorry, Heb. I will be (or, I am; futures being oft so taken) solicitous or anxious; full of grief for what is past, and of cares and fears for the future; partly lest I should…

Lively, Heb. living, i.e. thriving, or flourishing, or prosperous, as life is used, Ps. 22:26, Ps. 34:12, and elsewhere.

They render evil for good; they hate and persecute me, not only without any injury or provocation on my part, but as it were in requital of the good which I have done to them.