John Calvin Commentary Psalms 38:21-22

"Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation." — Psalms 38:21-22 (ASV)

In these concluding verses, David briefly states the chief point he desired and the sum of his whole prayer: specifically, that since he was forsaken by men and severely afflicted in every way, God would receive him and raise him up again. He uses three forms of expression:

1. that God would not forsake him, or cease to take care of him;
2. that he would not be far from him;
3. that he would make haste to help him.

David was, indeed, persuaded that God is always near his servants and that He does not delay a single moment longer than is necessary.

But, as we have seen elsewhere, it is not at all surprising that the saints, when they unburden their cares and sorrows into the bosom of God, make their requests in language that reflects their human emotions. They are not ashamed to confess their weakness, nor is it proper to conceal the doubts that arise in their minds.

However, although waiting was wearisome to David in his human experience, yet in one word he plainly shows that he was not praying in uncertainty when he calls God his salvation, or the author of his salvation. Some render it to my salvation, but this is forced. David rather sets this up as a wall of defense against all the schemes by which, as we have seen, his faith was attacked: that whatever might happen, he was, nevertheless, well assured of his salvation in God.