Psalms 39

Psalms 39:1

THE title, [Ieduthun] he was one of the three chiefe heads of the holy musick appointed by David, 1 Chron. 16. 41. and 25. 1. 3. Others think that this Psalme was given to the company of the Ieduthunites, which as well as the rest had alwayes it head. I said] I had propounded and firmely promised to my selfe: [my wayes] my actions and words: [a bridle] or mouse for my mouth; his meaning is, I will bridle my inward motions and swellings, so that my tongue shall not run out, which is the first and suddenest budding of sin, Iam. 3. 2. 3. [is before me] I will see him flourish and prosper, abusing Gods patience with insolency and persecuting of the godly.

Psalms 39:2

Dum] to not murure, nor withstand Gods providence: [from good] namely from that which was lawfull and reasonable for mee to speake in my sufferances, for defence of mine innocency, which was to complaine unto God and desire justice at his hands.

Psalms 39:3

Was t] seeing I could not evaporate my passion in words, I doe inwardly boile through impatience.

Psalms 39:4

Make mee to know] seeing mine afflictions are such, that it seemes they can have no end, but only with my life, I pray thee let mee know the prefixed time of it, that according to it I may provide my selfe with patience. Or doe thou shorten it, that I may not be quite overcome.

Psalms 39:5

Behold] hee seemeth herein to correct his former wishes or desires, as if hee said; But why doe I thus grieve at the lastingnesse of my miseries, seeing that mans life is so short? cannot I comfort my selfe in the shortnesse of my life, which will also shorten my miseries, see 2 Corinthians 4:18. [an hand breadth] or foure fingers breadth, which is one of the least geometricall measures: [at his best state] the Italian, though hee stand, that is to say, though hee be alive, or in a prosperous, and well settled state: [altogether vanity] he is like an abbreviate, or compound made of all that is brittle, transitory, and decaying in this world.

Psalms 39:6

Walketh] the Italian, goeth and commeth, this vanity of man is not only discovered at his death, which is so suden, but in the whole course of his life also which is like unto a flying shaddow, see 1 Corinthians 7:31. [they are disquieted] or tossed to and fro, the Scripture often joyneth trouble and vanity together, and also confounds the termes, see Hosea 8:7. an irrigular tossing to and fro, being proper to light and empty bodies.

Psalms 39:7

And now Lord] though I know very well by the discourse of reason, that death will end my miseries, yet that is not my true comfort, which consists in nothing but only in thy grace and salvation.

Psalms 39:8

The foolish] that is to say, the worldly man, who is preoccupated with false and erroneous opinions, transported with vaine passions, and drunken with his own prosperity, see Psal.14. 1.

Psalms 39:9

I was dumbe] the Italian, I grow dumbe, now that I have through faith set my soule in peace, and leaving aside mine enemies, who ae but secondary causes of mine evills, I am come up by vertue of thy spirit, to thee who art the supreame cause; I can voluntarily keep silence and have patience, which before, naturall reason could not induce mee to doe.

Psalms 39:11

For iniquity] namely when corrections are sent by thee for an expresse punishment of sin, either in fatherly severity to thy children, or as a judge for a punishment to the wicked:[like a moth] which is easily crushed, and killed, see Iob 27. 18. Psal. 58. 8. or by a secret kinde of consumption; as a moth gnaweth or fretteth a garment, and makes no noise, see Ioh 13. 28. Isaiah 50:9. Hosea 5:12. [surely] in the violent and fierce wrath of God, mans vanity is plainly discovered, which is not so well perceived in the slow and unperceivable decay of nature.

Psalms 39:12

A stranger] I am to make but a short stay and abode in this life, by thy sufferance; therefore doe thou that art the everlasting Lord, use that mercy towards mee which thou commandest to bee used towards strangers, that are pious persons. Or, regard mee as a poore stranger who am come under thy roofe for protection: [as all] I doe acknowledge my selfe to be in the same state of misery as all my predecessors were, ond therefore I desire the same grace and favour as thy hands as they had before mee.

Psalms 39:13

Spare mee] mitrigate the violence of mine affliction: [recover strength] by faith in spirit, that I may 〈…〉ish my course, and the good fight, obtaining the victory through a happie death; after which there is no more beginning againe: [be no more] in regard of this life, in which the fight continueth, and is ended by death.