Psalms 38

11, 12. Friends desert, but foes increase in malignity.

12. seek after my life--( 1 Samuel 20:1 , 22:23 ).

13, 14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies ( John 19:9 ) to their insulting speeches;

15-17. for he is confident the
Lord--literally, "Sovereign" (to whom he was a servant), would answer his prayer ( Psalms 3:4 , 4:1 ), and not permit their triumph in his partial halting, of which he was in danger.

18. Consciousness of sin makes suffering pungent, and suffering, rightly received, leads to confession.

19, 20. Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.
enemies are lively--literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.

21, 22. (Compare Psalms 22:19 , 35:3 ). All terms of frequent use. In this Psalm the language is generally susceptible of application to Christ as a sufferer, David, as such, typifying Him. This does not require us to apply the confessions of sin, but only the pains or penalties which He bore for us.