This psalm is entitled "A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance," and the thing that is brought most readily to the psalmist's remembrance during this time of affliction is his past sin. The modern idea is to "forget your past sin seeing as God has forgotten it," but such a doctrine finds little support from the word of God or in the lives of past saints. The present-day notions of "assurance" allows little room for Godly sorrow for sin in the believer and the child of God is seldom exhorted to remember "the wormwood and the gall." But how true the words of good John Newton, "I would not give a straw," he says, "for that assurance which sin will not damp. If David had come from his adultery and had talked of his assurance at that time, I should have despised his speech." David, indeed, brings to remembrance his "iniquity" and instead of standing brazen-faced before his God he rather falls before Jehovah's footstool and confesses, "My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness."
Verses 2-4. "For thine arrows stick fast in me …" Let no one think these expressions of penitence overstrained or excessive. If we were as repentant as David, we should bring home to ourselves his language. As it is, our affections are chilled and we do not enter into his words. And let us observe how all the miseries are referred to their proper end. The sin is not bewailed merely on account of its ill effect of the guilty one, but on account of the despite done to God. The psalmist's first thought is the "anger" of the Lord, and his "hot displeasure." It is not the "arrows" that afflict him so much as the fact that they are God's arrows – "Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me."
The Seven Penitential Psalms
Verses 5-6. "My wounds stink and are corrupt … I am bowed down greatly …" The spiritual feeling of sin is indispensable to the feeling of salvation. A sense of the disease must ever proceed a believing reception and due apprehension of the remedy. Wherever God intends to reveal His Son with power, wherever He intends to make the gospel to be "a joyful sound," He makes the conscience feel and groan under the burden of sin. A living man must needs cry under such circumstances. He cannot carry the burden without complaining of its weight. Spiritual complaint, then, is a mark of spiritual life.
J. C. Philpot
Verse 9. "Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee." Secret tears for secret sins are an excellent sign of a holy heart. God well understands the language of half words interrupted with sighs. Such inward sorrow prevents open shame.
Samuel Lee
Verse 13. "But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth." God is a witness to all the wrong that is done to us, and in due time will be a witness for us, and against those that do us wrong. But, if we undertake to manage and look out for ourselves, we take this work of God out of His hands, and forfeit the benefit of His appearing for us. We shall not lose anything by committing ourselves to him that judges righteously.
Matthew Henry
Verse 17. "For I am ready to halt …" And then in process of time there came a post to the town and his business this time was with Mr Ready-to-halt. "I am come to thee in the name of Him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches. And my message is to tell thee that He expects thee at His table to sup with Him in His Kingdom the next day after Easter." "I am sent for," said Mr Ready-to-halt to his fellow-pilgrims, "and God shall surely visit you also."
"He whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches, expects thee at His table the next day after Easter." Take comfort cripples! Had it been said that the King so expects Greatheart, or Standfast, or Valiant for Truth, that would have been after the manner of the kings of this world. But to insist on having Mr Ready-to-halt beside Him by such and such a day; to send such a post to a pilgrim who has not a single sound bone in all his body; to a sinner without a single trustworthy grace in all his heart; to a poor and simple believer who has nothing in his hand but one of God's own promises – Who is a King like unto our King?
"Fear not Mephibosheth, for I will surely shew thee kindness, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually." And Mephibosheth shall always be our spokesman when he bows himself and says in return: "What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am."
Alexander Whyte's "Bunyan Characters"
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 38 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 78 – placed on line May 2009 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |