Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 40:12
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For innumerable evils have compassed me about, etc.] Like floods of water all around him; (see <191804>Psalm 18:4,5 Jon 2:5); these are the evils of punishment inflicted on him, as the surety and Saviour of his people; such as the sorrows and griefs he bore all his days; the cruel mockings and scourges he endured; his being buffeted and spit upon; his head crowned with thorns, and his hands and feet pierced with nails; insulted by men and devils; crucified between two thieves, and so died the shameful and painful death of the cross; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me; not any committed by him; he was conceived, born, and lived without sin, knew none, nor did he any; but the sins of his people, which were imputed to him, laid upon him, and which he voluntarily took and bore; and which he reckoned as his own and was responsible for them; these, when he hung upon the cross, came upon him from all quarters, and he bore them in his own body upon the tree; so that I am not able to look up; or “cannot see” f569; either the end of these iniquities, they being so numerous, as is after related; or he could not bear to look upon them, they were so filthy and nauseous, and he so pure and holy; or he could not behold his Father’s countenance, which these sins that were upon him separated him from, and caused to be hid from him; or, like one pressed down with the guilt of sin, as the poor publican was, could not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, (<421813>Luke 18:13); they are more than the hairs of mine head; as they must needs be, since they were the iniquities of all the elect of God, of the whole general assembly ad church of the firstborn, written in heaven, (<235306>Isaiah 53:6); therefore my heart faileth me; as man; (see <192214>Psalm 22:14); though being supported by his divine nature, and by his divine Father and eternal Spirit, he failed not, nor was he discouraged, (<234204>Isaiah 42:4); this is said to show the truth of the human nature, the greatness of men’s sins, the strictness of divine justice, and what strength was necessary to accomplish man’s salvation.
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