Psalms 39

Psalms 39:1-3

David harbored some strong feelings that he refrained from expressing publicly. As a fire within him they burned to come out, but he held them in fearing that he might regret his words. His feelings arose out of his discipline at God’s hand (Psalms 39:9).

Psalms 39:4-6

David finally found relief in expressing his frustration to God. He prayed that God would teach him to appreciate the brevity of human life (cf. Psalms 90:10; Psalms 90:12). Evidently David was an old man at this time. His life seemed very short looking back on it. People measured short distances with handbreadths in David’s time (Psalms 39:5). The pursuits of life are relatively insignificant in view of the short time we live.

Psalms 39:7

The psalmist threw himself on the Lord, trusting Him to make the rest of his life enjoyable.

Psalms 39:8-9

David’s suffering was due to God’s chastening. Perhaps he had sinned with his mouth and therefore felt compelled to guard his speech closely (cf. Psalms 39:1-2).

Psalms 39:10-11

David needed relief. He spoke as though he felt God was chewing up his life as a moth eats a garment. The long duration of his affliction made him sense the brevity of life. God was disciplining him (cf. Hebrews 12:5-11).

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world.” [Note: C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 81.

Psalms 39:12-13

In closing, David asked God to remove His chastening, whatever it was, so he could enjoy his final years of life. [Note: See W. A. M. Beuken, “Psalms 39 : Some Aspects of the Old Testament Understanding of Prayer,” The Heythrop Journal 19 (1978):1-11. The brevity of life impresses one increasingly as he or she grows older. People are usually more conscious of this in times of sorrow than in happy times. It is natural for a believer to want God to teach him or her to live wisely, and want Him to be patient with one’s sinfulness in view of life’s shortness.