O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
O LORD, please don't correct me when you're angry with me, and don't discipline me when you're filled with fierce displeasure.
The writer is pleading with God not to punish him while God is angry, asking for mercy instead of judgment.
📚 Historical Context
This is the opening of Psalm 38, which is attributed to David and is one of the seven penitential psalms traditionally used for confession and repentance. David likely wrote this during a time of personal crisis, possibly dealing with illness, enemies, or the consequences of his own sins. In ancient Israel, people understood that God's discipline could come through various hardships, and they often saw suffering as connected to divine displeasure.
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