Geneva Bible Study Notes :: Footnotes for Psalms 38

Psa 38:2 For thine (c) arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

(c) Your sickness, with which you have visited me.

Psa 38:3 [There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my (d) sin.

(d) David acknowledges God to be just in his punishments, because his sins had deserved much more.

Psa 38:4 For mine (e) iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

(e) He confesses his sins, God's justice, and makes prayer his refuge.

Psa 38:5 My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of (f) my foolishness.

(f) That rather gave place to my own lusts, than to the will of God.

Psa 38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I (g) have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

(g) This example warns us never to despair, no matter how great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure trust for deliverance.

Psa 38:10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, (h) it also is gone from me.

(h) My sight fails me for sorrow.

Psa 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my (i) kinsmen stand afar off.

(i) Partly for fear and partly for pride, they denied all duty and friendship.

Psa 38:13 But I, as a (k) deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.

(k) For I can have no audience before men, and therefore patiently wait for the help of God.

Psa 38:16 For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: (l) when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.

(l) That is, if they see that you do not help me in time, they will mock and triumph as though you had forsaken me.

Psa 38:17 For I [am] ready to (m) halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me.

(m) I am without hope to recover my strength.

Psa 38:19 But mine (n) enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

(n) In my greatest misery they most rejoice.

Psa 38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] (o) good [is].

(o) He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than fail in any part of his duty to God.

Psa 38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my (p) salvation.

(p) Who is the author of my salvation: and this declares that he prayed with sure hope of deliverance.