Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

PSAL. XXXVIII.

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.

A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance a.

1. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure b.

2. For thine arrows c stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore d.

3. There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger: neither is there any † rest in my bones e, because of my sin f.

4. For mine iniquities g are gone over my head h: as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5. My wounds stink, and are corrupt i: be∣cause of my foolishness k.

6. I am † troubled l, I am bowed down great∣ly; I go ‖ mourning m all the day long.

7. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease n: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared o by reason of the disquietness of my heart p.

9. Lord, all my desire is before thee: and my groaning is not hid from thee q.

10. My heart panteth r, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also † is gone from me s.

11. My lover and my friends stand aloof t, from my † sore: and ‖ my kinsmen stand afar off.

12. They also that seek after my life, lay snares for me u: and they that seek my hurt, speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits x all the day long.

13. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man, that openeth not his mouth y.

14. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs z.

15. For ‖ in thee, O LORD, do I hope a: thou wilt ‖ hear, O LORD my God.

16. For I said b, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoyce over me c: when my foot slip∣peth d, they magnifie themselves against me e.

17. For I am ready † to halt f, and my sor∣row is continually before me g.

18. For I will declare mine iniquity h; I will be sorry i for my sin k.

19. But mine enemies † are lively l, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20. They also that render evil for good m, are mine adversaries: because I follow the thing that good is n.

21. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

22. Make hast † to help me, O LORD my salvation.

Notes

• Psal. 70. Tit.
• a

  Either, 1. To God, that by this humble and mournful Pray∣er, he might prevail with God, to remember and Pity him; for now he seemed, quite to have forgotten him. Or, 2. To himself, that by reviewing this Psalm afterwards, he might call to Mind his former Danger and Misery, and God's wonderful mercy in delivering him from them; which we are very apt to forget. And that others also might remember and consider what God had done to him, first in Chastening, and then in restoring him, and might make use of his Example for their benefit.
• b

  I Confess, I both deserve Chastisement and need it, and therefore I desire not that thou wouldest remove it, but onely moderate it. See the same Expression, Psal. 6. 1:
• Job 6. 4:
• c

  (i. e.) Thy Judgments inflicted upon my outward and inward Man, oft Compared to Arrows, as Deut. 32. 23. Psal. 7. 13. and 45▪ 5. and 91. 5.
• d

  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 deeper Wound.
• Psal. 6. 2.
• †

  Heb. Peace, Or, Health.
• e

  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.
• f

  Which hath provoked thee, to deal thus se∣verely with me.
• g

  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 applyed to Af∣flictions, and not to •…•…ins.
• Ezra 9, 6.
• h

  Like deep Waters wherewith I am overwhelmed and almost drowned, Psal. 42. 7. and 69. 2. and 124. 4, 5.
• i

  The Bruises and Sores caused by my Disease, are not one∣ly painful but loathsome, to my self and to others.
• k

  (i. e.) Sin, which really is, and is commonly called folly, as Psal. 69. 5. Prov. 13. 16. and 14. 17. and 15. 2, &c.
• †

  Heb: Cryed.
• l

  Heb. Distorted, or Depressed; Or, as it is expressed by ano∣other Word, signifying the same thing, bowed down, to wit, in my Body, as diseased Persons commonly are, and withal dejected in my Mind.
• ‖

  Or, in black. Mal. 3. 14.
• m

  Heb. In black, the sign of Mourning, which may here signifie the thing, as signs oft do. When for my ease I rise out of my Bed and walk, or rather Creep about in my Chamber, I do it with a sad Heart, and dejected Counte∣nance. Or, if he did walk further, his Disease had some In∣tervals and Mitigations. Or going, may be here meant of his Languishing, or going towards the Grave, as this same Word is used, Gen. 15. 2. Comp. with 25. 32. Ios. 23. 14.
• n

  Or, with filthiness: Or, with scorching Heat. The Disease might be some burning Feaver, being also Malignant or Pesti∣lential, either burning inwardly, or breaking forth outwardly, in Carbuncles, or Boyls. It is true, this and the other Ex∣pressions may be taken Figuratively, of some grievous Calami∣ty. But we should not forsake the proper and the literal Sence of the Words without necessity, which seems not to be in this place.
• o

  Like a Bear or a Lyon, through extreme Pain and Misery.
• p

  For the great Anxiety and Torment of my Mind, caused by the deep Sence 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 intolerable.
• q

  I do not utter all these Complaints, nor Roar out that thou mayst hear and know them, for thou hearest and know∣est, even my lowest Groans; yea, mine inward Desires, and all my Necessities. And therefore, I pray thee, Pity and de∣liver me, as, I trust, thou wilst do.
• r

  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.
• †

  Heb. is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with me.
• s

  Mine Eyes are grown dim; Either, through grief and Tears, as Psal. 6. 7. Or through weakness, as 1 Sam. 14. 28, 29.
• Psal. 31. 11. Mat. 27. 55.
• t

  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.
• †

  Heb. stroke.
• ‖

  Or, my Neigh∣bours.
• u

  That, if my Disease do not kill me, they may destroy me some other way.
• x

  They design Mischief, but cover it with fair Pretences.
• y

  I carried my self 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 testifie his Humiliation for his sins, and his patient Submission to, and Acceptation of the Punishment which he had brought upon himself. Of which see an instance, 2 Sam. 16. 10, 11, 12. Where∣in also he was an eminent Type of Christ, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, 1 Pet. 2. 23.
• z

  Or, Arguments, to Convince or Confute them, or to de∣fend my self.
• ‖

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• a

  I bore their Carriage silently and patiently, because I ho∣ped and knew that thou wouldest Answer for me, and Plead my Cause better than my self; which I would not prevent by my impatience, and avenging my self. Or, But in thee do I hope, (i. e.) Though Friends forsake me, and mine Enemies Plot and Practise against me, yet I do not Despair, because I have thee on my side.
• ‖

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• b

  To wit, in my Heart and Prayers, I used this Argument which I knew was prevalent.
• c

  In my Destruction, which al∣so will reflect upon thee; who hast undertaken to defend and save me, and for whose sake I suffer so much from these wicked Men, v. 20.
• d

  When I fall either into any Gross sin, or into any Misery, or into both, as I have now done.
• e

  They Triumph in the Accomplishment of their Designs, or Desires.
• †

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 for Halt∣•…•…. Psal. 35. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Mic. 4. 7.
• f

  Just falling into utter Destruction; see Ier. 20. 10. and therefore, if thou dost not help me speedily, it will be too late.
• g

  I am deeply and constantly sensible of thy just Hand, and of my sins the cause of it; wherewith I shall be over∣whelmed, if thou dost not prevent it.
• h

  Either to thee: Or publickly to the World, because my sin hath been publick and Scandalous.
• i

  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 Fu∣ture; Partly, lest I should Relapse into the same folly, upon new Temptations, and Partly, lest thou shouldest cut me off, for my sins. Therefore Pity and pardon, and save me.
• k

  Or, by reason of my sin, or upon that occasion.
• †

  Heb. being 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• l

  Heb. Living, (i. e.) Thriving or Flourishing, or Pro∣sperous, as Life is used, Psal. 22. 26. and 34. 12. and else∣where.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 35. 12.
• m

  They hate and Persecute me, not onely without any In∣jury or Provocation on my part, but as it were in Requital of the good, which I have done to them.
• n

  Because I Love, and diligently Practise Justice and Godliness, which they hate, and which they take to be a Reproach to them, and which I did Exercise, as I had Opportunity, in the Punishment of such as they are. Compare Ioh. 15. 19. 1 Ioh. 3. 12.
• †

  Heb. for my 〈◊〉〈◊〉.