06/05/2025 – Day 340 – Psalm 140 – 142 / David: “Let the righteous one strike me…” Psalm 142:5
“Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.” (Psalm 142:5)
Let’s check in on Matthew Henry’s commentary for this single verse:
“David desires to be told of his faults. Let the righteous one smite me; it shalll be kindness. We are here taught how to receive the reproofs of the righteous and wise. If my own heart does not smite me as it ought, let my friend do it; let me never falulnder the dreadful judgment of being let alone in sin. We must account it. piece of friendship. We must not only bear it patiently, but take it as a kindness. Though reproofs cut, it is in order to a cure, and therefore they are much more desirable than the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6) or the song of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5). It shall be as an excellent oil to a wound, to mollify it and close it up, it shall not break my head, as some reckon it to do, who could as well bear to have their heads broken as to be told of their faults; but, says David, ‘I am not of that mind; it is my sin that has broken my head , that has broken my bones, Psalm 51:8. The reproof is an excellent oil, to cure the bruises sin has given me. It shall not break my head, if it may be help to break my heart.”
Soli Deo Gloria