“But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.”
The psalmist describes how his enemies are vigorous and strong and many are those who hate him without cause. The strength of the enemies and the unjustified nature of some of the hostility suggest that not all the opposition can be attributed to the psalmist's sin. This verse introduces the complexity: while the psalmist acknowledges his own transgression, he also faces unjustified opposition from enemies. The suffering is multi-sourced.
Church Fathers on Psalms 38:19
A psalm to David himself, on the remembrance of the Sabbath. 1. What does this recollection of the Sabbath mean? What is this Sabbath? For it is with groaning that he “calls it to recollection.” You have both heard already when the Psalm was read, and you will now hear it when we shall go over it, how great is his groaning, his mourning, his tears, his misery. But happy he who is wretched after this manner! Whence the Lord also in the Gospel Matthew 5:4 called some who mourn…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!