Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 38:16
For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.
16. For I said, Lest they rejoice over me (R.V.). This was the plea which he urged in his prayer (Psa 25:2; Psa 35:19). The enemies of the godly man rejoice at his calamities, for they see in them a proof of God’s disfavour (Psa 41:11).
when my foot slippeth ] Lit. is moved, a metaphor for misfortune of any kind (Psa 13:4).
magnify themselves] Cp. Psa 35:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For I said – This is the prayer to which he referred in the previous verse. He prayed that he might not be permitted to fall away under the influence of his sins and sufferings; that his faith might remain firm; that he might not be allowed to act so as to justify the accusations of his enemies, or to give them occasion to rejoice over his fall. The entire prayer Psa 38:16-18 is one that is based on the consciousness of his own weakness, and his liability to sin, if left to himself; on the certainty that if God did not interpose, his sins would get the mastery over him, and he would become in his conduct all that his enemies desired, and be in fact all that they had falsely charged on him.
Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me – literally, For I said, lest they should rejoice over me. It is the language of earnest desire that they might not thus be allowed to rejoice over his fall. The same sentiment occurs substantially in Psa 13:3-4. The motive is a right one; alike
(a) in reference to ourselves personally – that our foes may not triumph over us by the ruin of our character; and
(b) in reference to its bearing on the cause of virtue and religion – that that cause may not suffer by our misconduct; compare Psa 69:6.
When my foot slippeth –
(a) When my foot really has slipped, or when I have committed sin (as the psalmist did not deny that he had done, Psa 38:3-5, Psa 38:18); or
(b) when it might occur again (as he felt was possible); or
(c) if I deviate in the slightest degree from perfect virtue; if I inadvertently do anything wrong.
The slipping of the foot is an indication of the want of firmness, and hence, it comes to represent the falling into sin.
They magnify themselves against me – See Psa 35:26. They exult over me; they triumph; they boast. They make themselves great on my fall, or by my being put down. This he says
(a) they were disposed to do, for they had shown a disposition to do it whenever he had fallen into sin;
(b) he apprehended that they would do it again, and they had already begun to magnify themselves against him, as if they were certain that it would occur.
He did not deny that there was ground to fear this, for he felt that his strength was almost gone Psa 38:17, and that God only could uphold him, and save him from justifying all the expectations of his enemies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. When my foot slippeth] They watched for my halting; and when my foot slipped, they rejoiced that I had fallen into sin!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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, Psa 38:20.
When my foot slippeth; when I fall either into any gross sin, or into any misery, or into both, as I have now done.
They magnify themselves against me; they triumph in the accomplishment of their designs or desires.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For I said, [hear me],…. This he had expressed in prayer to God; he had committed his cause to him, and entreated him that he would hear and answer him; giving this as a reason,
lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me; at his misfortunes and calamities, at the continuance of his trouble and distress, both of body and mind;
when my foot slippeth; as it sometimes did through the corruptions of nature, the temptations of Satan, and the snares of the world; which is more or less the case of all the people of God, who are all subject to slips and falls, though they shall not finally and totally fall away;
they magnify [themselves] against me; that is, his enemies exulted and triumphed over him: this was what he found by experience; and therefore makes use of it as an argument with God, that he would hear and answer and deliver him out of his trouble, and preserve him from falling.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16 For I said, lest they rejoice over me. Here he also confirms his faith and his earnestness in prayer from this consideration, that if he should be forsaken of God, his enemies would triumph. This indignity, on their part, is of no small weight in inducing God to help us; for the wicked, in thus magnifying themselves against us, and indulging in derision, not only make war with our flesh, but also directly assail our faith and endeavor to destroy whatever there is of religion and the fear of God in our hearts. What is the object of all their mockery, but to persuade us that what God has promised is vain and worthless? The Psalmist immediately adds, that it is not without cause that he is struck with the fear that his enemies would rejoice over him, since he had already had experience of their proud boastings. We are taught from this passage, that in proportion as our enemies increase in insolence and cruelty towards us, or, seeing us already overwhelmed by a heavy load of adversities, in their proud disdain trample us under their feet, we ought to cherish the greater hope that God will come to our help.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) Lest.It is better to carry on the force of the particle of condition:
For I said, Lest they should rejoice over me:
Lest, when my foot slipped, they should vaunt themselves against me.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Lest they should rejoice over me This is urged as the reason for the divine interference; or, if this verse should be made to connect with Psa 38:14, it would be the reason for David’s silence before his enemies, as in Psa 39:1-2. The reader will understand that the sentence is elliptical, the words “hear me” and “otherwise” being supplied by the translators.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 38:16 For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.
Ver. 16. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise, &c. ] He spread their vile speeches before the Lord, as afterwards good Hezekiah did Rabshakeh’s letter; and as it was said of Charles V., that he spake more to God than to men; so did David. His former silence, therefore, was not either from stupidity (a sheep bitten by a dog is as sensible thereof as a swine, though he make not so great a noise) or inability to make his own defence, if it had been to any purpose, for he was both innocent and eloquent; but he thought it far better to sustain himself in faith and patience, and meekly to commit himself to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Besides, he feared lest if he spake at all in this case, he should speak unadvisedly with his lips (as it is very easy to exceed), and so give occasion to the enemy to triumph, as the Papists did over Luther, for his hot and hasty speeches.
When my foot slippeth
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
For I said: Psa 13:3, Psa 13:4, Psa 35:24-26
foot: Psa 94:18, Deu 32:35
magnify: Psa 35:26
Reciprocal: Job 19:5 – magnify Psa 17:5 – that Psa 27:12 – will Psa 35:19 – Let Psa 55:12 – magnify Psa 73:2 – steps Lam 1:21 – they are Lam 2:17 – he hath caused Mic 7:8 – Rejoice Zec 12:7 – do
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.