381 Jehovah, in Thy wrath reprove me not, Nor in Thy fury chastise me. 2 For Thine arrows have come down on me, And Thou lettest down upon me Thy hand. 3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Thine indignation, Peace is not in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—too heavy for me. 5 Stunk—become corrupt have my wounds, Because of my folly. 6 I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—unto excess, All the day I have gone mourning. 7 For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh. 8 I have been feeble and smitten—unto excess, I have roared from disquietude of heart. 9 Lord, before Thee 'is' all my desire, And my sighing from Thee hath not been hid. 10 My heart 'is' panting, my power hath forsaken me, And the light of mine eyes, Even they are not with me. 11 My lovers and my friends over-against my plague stand. And my neighbours afar off have stood.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 38:1-11
Commentary on Psalm 38:1-11
(Read Psalm 38:1-11)
Nothing will disquiet the heart of a good man so much as the sense of God's anger. The way to keep the heart quiet, is to keep ourselves in the love of God. But a sense of guilt is too heavy to bear; and would sink men into despair and ruin, unless removed by the pardoning mercy of God. If there were not sin in our souls, there would be no pain in our bones, no illness in our bodies. The guilt of sin is a burden to the whole creation, which groans under it. It will be a burden to the sinners themselves, when they are heavy-laden under it, or a burden of ruin, when it sinks them to hell. When we perceive our true condition, the Good Physician will be valued, sought, and obeyed. Yet many let their wounds rankle, because they delay to go to their merciful Friend. When, at any time, we are distempered in our bodies, we ought to remember how God has been dishonoured in and by our bodies. The groanings which cannot be uttered, are not hid from Him that searches the heart, and knows the mind of the Spirit. David, in his troubles, was a type of Christ in his agonies, of Christ on his cross, suffering and deserted.