John Calvin Commentary Psalms 39:13

"Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more." — Psalms 39:13 (ASV)

Let me alone, that I may recover strength. Literally, it is, cease from me, and therefore some explain it: Let there be a wall raised between us, that Your hand may not reach me. Others read, as a supplement, the word eyes; but regarding the sense, it matters little which of the interpretations is adopted, for the meaning is the same: that David entreats God to grant him a little relaxation from his trouble, so that he might recover strength, or, at least, enjoy a short respite, before he departs from this world.

This concluding verse of the psalm relates to the distress and sinful emotions which he had experienced according to the flesh; for he seems, as if complaining to God, to ask that at least time might be granted him to die, as men usually speak when they are severely harassed by their affliction.

I admit that he speaks in a fitting manner, in acknowledging that there is no hope of his being restored to health until God ceases to manifest His displeasure; but he errs in this, that he asks for a respite, just so that he may have time to die. We might, indeed, regard the prayer as allowable by understanding it in this sense: Lord, as it will not be possible for me to endure Your stroke any longer, but I must, indeed, miserably perish if You continue to afflict me severely, at least grant me relief for a little while, so that in calmness and peace I may commit my soul into Your hands.

But we may easily infer from the language he uses that his mind was so affected by the bitterness of his grief that he could not present a prayer pure and well seasoned with the sweetness of faith; for he says, before I depart, and be no more: a way of speaking that indicates the feeling almost of despair.

Not that David could regard death as the entire annihilation of man, or that, renouncing all hope of his salvation, he resigned himself to destruction; but he uses this language because he had previously been so depressed because of grief that he could not lift up his heart with as much cheerfulness as he should have.

This is an expression found more than once in the complaints of Job. It is obvious, therefore, that although David endeavored carefully to restrain the desires of the flesh, yet these caused him so much distress and trouble that they forced him to exceed the proper limits in his grief.