Psalm 39:10

10 But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

Psalm 39:10 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 39:10

Remove thy stroke away from me
The psalmist still considers his affliction as coming from the hand of God, as his stroke upon him, and which lay as a heavy burden on him, and which God only could remove; and to him he applies for the removal of it, who is to be sought unto by his people to do such things for them; nor is such an application any ways contrary to that silence and patience before expressed;

I am consumed by the blow of thine hand;
meaning either that his flesh was consumed by his affliction, which came from the hand of God, or he should be consumed if he did not remove it: he could not bear up under it, but must sink and die; if he continued to strive and contend with him, his spirit would fail before him, and the soul that he had made; and therefore he entreats he would remember he was but dust, and remove his hand from him; for this is a reason enforcing the preceding petition.

Psalm 39:10 In-Context

8 Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me.

9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.

10 But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

11 When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD ! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.