John Trapp on Psalms 38:1

PSAL. XXXVIII.

A Pſalm of David to bring to remembrance] Made purpoſely for a memorial, both of what he had ſuffered, and from what he had been delivered. See 1 Chron. 16.4. Exod. 30.16. Lev. 2.2. & 6.15. Recordat[illegible: 3 letters] autem intelligitur miſerie ex miſericordia, Pſal. 132. Iſa. 62.6. & 63.7. It is probable that David had ſo laid to heart the Rape of his Daughter Tamar, the Murther of his eldeſt Son Amnon, the flight of his next Son Abſolom, and other troubles that befell him; (Baſil thinks Abſoloms conſpiracy, Ahitophels perfidy, Shimeies inſolency, &c.) that it coſt him a great fit of ſickneſs; out of which hardly recovering, he penned this and ſome other Pſalms (as the 35.39, 40.) but this eſpecially for a Momento, to imminde him of his own late miſery, and Gods never-failing mercy to him. Both theſe we are wondrous apt to forget, and ſo both to loſe the fruit of our afflictions, by falling afreſh to our evil practices (as Children ſoon forget a whipping.) and to rob God our Deliverer of his due praiſes: like as with Children, eaten bread is ſoon forgotten. Both theſe miſchiefs, to prevent, both in himſelf and others (for we are bound not only to obſerve Gods Law, but alſo to preſerve it as much as may be from being broken) David compoſed this Pſalm, for to record, or to cauſe remembrance (See the like title, Pſal. 70.) and for a form for a ſick man to pray by, as Kimchi noteth; not to be ſung for thoſe in Purgatory, as ſome Papiſts have dreamed.

Verſ. 1. O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath] He beginneth and endeth the Pſalm with Petitions, filleth it up with ſad complaints; wherein we ſhall finde him groaning, but not grumbling; mourning, but not murmuring; for that is not the guiſe of Gods people. He beginneth with Eheu Jehova non recuſo coargui & caſtigari; Correct me O Lord, but with Judgement, not in anger, leſt thou bring me to nothing, Jer. 10.24. See Pſal. 6.1. with the Notes.