Salmene 6:1

Det Norsk Bibelselskap

Til sangmesteren, med strengelek; efter Sjeminit*; en salme av David. / {* kanskje en viss toneart, 1KR 15, 21.}

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sheminith: or, the eighth, Psalms 12:1, *title 1 Chronicles 15:21, *marg.

rebuke: Psalms 2:5, Psalms 38:1, Isaiah 54:9, Isaiah 57:16, Jeremiah 10:24, Jeremiah 46:28, 1 Corinthians 11:31, 1 Corinthians 11:32

Reciprocal: Exodus 11:8 - a great anger Judges 3:8 - was hot Job 10:2 - Do not Job 33:26 - pray Psalms 4:1 - Neginoth Psalms 31:9 - my soul Psalms 119:107 - afflicted Isaiah 27:8 - measure Isaiah 64:9 - wroth Jeremiah 30:11 - but I Habakkuk 3:2 - in wrath Habakkuk 3:19 - stringed instruments Matthew 5:4 - General 2 Corinthians 7:7 - mourning Hebrews 12:5 - nor faint Revelation 3:19 - many

Gill's Notes on the Bible

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, The Lord sometimes rebukes or reproves men by his spirit, and sometimes by his word and ministers, and sometimes by his providences, and that on account of sin; to bring to a sense and acknowledgment of it; and particularly for remissness in duty, or neglect of it; and for trusting in the creature, or in any outward enjoyment, boasting of it, and loving it too much; and these rebukes of his own people are always in love, and never in wrath, though they sometimes fear they are; see Psalms 88:7 Lamentations 3:1; and therefore deprecate them, as the psalmist here does; not the thing itself, but the manner in which it is apprehended it is done, or doing;

neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure; when God chastens his own people it is not in a way of vindictive wrath, or as a proper punishment for sin; for this would be contrary to Christ's suretyship engagements and performances, and to the doctrine of his satisfaction for sin; it would draw a veil over it, and render it of none effect; it would be contrary to the justice of God to punish both surety and principal; and to the everlasting love of God to them, in which he always rests, and from which there can be no separation; nor would they be dealt with as children; and besides would be condemned with the world, and killed with the second death; whereas they will not, though chastened of God, it is the chastening of a father, is very instructive to them, and is always for their good, spiritual and eternal; is in measure, in judgment, and in love; and never in fury and hot displeasure; but this being feared, is deprecated.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger - As if God was rebuking him by the affliction which he was bringing upon him. This is the point on which the attention of the psalmist is now fixed. He had been apparently contemplating his afflictions, and inquiring into their cause, and he was led to the conclusion that it might be for his sins, and that his trials were to be interpreted as proof that God was angry with him. He speaks, therefore, of God as visiting him in his “anger,” and in his “hot displeasure,” and pleads with him that he would “not” thus rebuke and chasten him. The word “rebuke” here, like the word rendered “chasten,” properly refers to the reproof of an offender “by words,” but may also be used to denote the reproof which God administers by his providential dealings when he brings judgment upon anyone for his sins. This is the meaning here. The psalmist did not apprehend that God would openly “reprove” him for his sins; but he regarded his dealings with him as such a reproof, and he pleads that the tokens of the reproof might be taken away. The whole language is that which indicates a connection between suffering and sin; the feeling which we have when we are afflicted that it must be on account of our sins.

Neither chasten me - A word denoting substantially the same thing; used here in the sense of “punishing.”

In thy hot displeasure - literally, “in thy heat.” We speak of anger or wrath as “burning,” or “consuming.” Compare Genesis 39:19; Numbers 11:33; Deuteronomy 11:17; Psalms 106:40; Job 19:11; Job 32:2-3; Psalms 2:12.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

PSALM VI

This Psalm contains a deprecation of eternal vengeance, 1;

a petition to God for mercy, 2.

This is enforced from a consideration of the psalmist's

sufferings, 3;

from that of the Divine mercy, 4;

from that of the praise and glory which God would fail to

receive if man were destroyed, 5;

from that of his humiliation and contrition, 6, 7.

Being successful in his supplication, he exults in God, 8, 9;

and predicts the downfall of all his enemies, 10.

NOTES ON PSALM VI

This Psalm has the following inscription: To the chief Musician on Neginoth, upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David; which the Chaldee translates, "To be sung on neginoth, a harp of eight strings." The various interpretations given to this inscription, both by ancients and moderns, show us that nothing is known concerning it. We have already seen that neginoth probably signifies all instruments which emitted sounds by strokes, or stringed instruments in general. This Psalm was to be accompanied with such instruments; but one of a particular kind is specified, viz., sheminith; so called from its having eight strings. The chief musician is directed to accompany the recital of this Psalm with the above instrument.

Verse Psalms 6:1. O Lord, rebuke me not — This Psalm, Which is one of the seven Penitential Psalms, is supposed to have been written during some grievous disease with which David was afflicted after his transgression with Bath-sheba. It argues a deep consciousness of sin, and apprehension of the just displeasure of God. It is the very language of a true penitent who is looking around for help, and who sees, as Bishop Horne well expresses it, "above, an angry God, ready to take vengeance; beneath, the fiery gulf, ready to receive him; without, a world in flames; within, the gnawing worm." Of all these, none so dreadful as an angry God; his wrath he particularly deprecates. God rebukes and chastens him, and he submits; but he prays not to be rebuked in anger, nor chastened in hot displeasure, because he knows that these must bring him down to total and final destruction.