Psalm 39 - Hope in the Lord!

 

39 A Psalm of David with commentary by Dennis Edwards

Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

We see Jesus’ example of keeping silent before His accusers when brought before the secular authorities. Pilate was amazed with Jesus’ behaviour and said, “Do you not hear how many things they witness against you?” But Jesus answered not a word, “insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly,” Matthew 27:12-13.

Apostle James warns us of the dangers of a rash tongue. He says, “If a man does not offend with his words, the same is a perfect or mature man, who is able also to bridle or control the whole body,” James 3:2. He goes on to write, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom,” James 3:13.

The speakers are the leaders, or the leaders are the speakers. They need to know how to speak to their flock to be able to lead them in the way that they should go. They need to be able to control their tongue and have sound words based on truth and love.

In Ecclesiastes we find, “Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin,” Ecclesiastes 5:6a. Jesus said we would give account for every idle word, ”For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned,” Matthew 12:36-37. Our words are important, they give life or death.

Apostle Paul also commented, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers,” Ephesians 4:29.

Job’s comment is, “If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me, If I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse,” Job 9:20. Sometimes our best defence is a quiet a meek spirit before God and man.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah said, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth,” Isaiah 53:7.

In Proverbs we find similar advice: “A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards,” Proverbs 29:11. “Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding,” Proverbs 17:28.

Psalm 39:2-3ab I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned:

Sometimes God does not want us to hold our tongue. Sometimes he wants us to speak in His defence or in His favour. Apostle Paul wrote, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, If I preach not the gospel,” 1 Corinthians 9:16.

However, when our emotions are running high, it is usually best to keep quiet, that you not throw fire upon fire. A loose tongue may make things worse, for the tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity,” James 3:6a.

Psalm 39:3c-5 Then spoke I with my tongue, Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, You have made my days as an handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before You: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

David changes to a more reflective mood and asks God about the length of his days. He realises that his life is but a vapour, here a little while and then it is gone.

Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely, they are disquieted (anxious) in vain: he heaps up riches and knows not who shall gather them.

Jesus has told us that we should not be worried about tomorrow. He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these (other) things shall be added unto you,” Matthew 6:33. He told us to not lay up treasures on earth where moth and rust do corrupt. But to lay up treasures in heaven, for where our treasure is, there will our heart be also,” Matthew 6:19-21.

Psalm 39:7-8 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

A familiar theme of David’s prayers is seeking forgiveness for his sins, transgressions, and iniquities.

Psalm 39:9-10 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because You did it. Remove Your stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.

When God’s hand is heavy upon us through some trial or testing, we often remain quiet. We may even become discouraged with the affliction, problem, or persecution, that we are going through. However, if we can hold onto Romans 8:28 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in these moments, God will transform whatever we are going through into something good for our soul and character.

When we trust God, and even give Him thanks in our affliction, we are showing we have faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Our faith through the difficulties of life is what pleases God. Therefore, whatever God is allowing in our lives is for our good, and though for a moment it may not “seem to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby,” Hebrews 12:11.

The Lord admonishes us to, “Wherefore lift up the hand which hang down, and the feeble knees;” Hebrews 12:12a. He does not want us to fall into discouragement and self-pity during our periods of testing. That’s why he says, “In everything give thanks.” We need to use the weapon of extreme praise and rebuke the enemy who is the author of the cloud of negativity over our heads during the moments of trial.

The writer of Hebrews continues to advise us. “And make straight paths for your feet.” In other words, perhaps our feet were on the wrong path, not according to God’s word which is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our way, Psalm 119:105. God wants us to straighten out and walk the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, rather than the broad way that leads to destruction.

“Less that which is lamb (or sick or discouraged) be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed (or strengthened or encouraged). Follow peace with all men, (in other words, do not hold grudges, but forgive from the heart and thereby be a peace among yourselves), and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently less any man fail of the grace of God: less any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,” Hebrews 12:13b-15.

If we let bitterness enter our lives, because we cannot trust God with the seemingly bad things that happen to us; we are in danger of having the wrong thinking and as a result having our hearts darkened, Romans 1:21. You will either be better or bitter. You will either be thankful or bitter, one or the other. Bitterness comes because we do not believe that God can transform that horrible event in our lives into something good. Bitterness is a lack of faith and trust in God. Fight bitterness through prayer, thanksgiving, and praise.

Psalm 39:11 When You with rebukes do correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

God’s corrections, or whatever He allows to happen in our lives, may in fact make us to limp like Jacob/Israel who wrestled with God. Our outward man may be perishing, but if we are thankful, the inward man will be renewed day by day, 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Apostle Paul went on to write, “For our light affliction (or problem, or sickness), which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. In other words, keep your eyes on heaven.

Psalm 39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not your peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with You, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

David, like his forefathers knew he was a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. Apostle Peter called the early followers of Christ: “strangers and pilgrims,” 1 Peter 2:11. The author of Hebrews describes the fathers of faith in the same fashion. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” Hebrews 11:13.

Psalm 39:13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

When we are going through it, whether it be sickness or affliction or persecution, and have sunk into discouragement over our condition, we feel like we are going to die. We may pray like David thinking we are at the end and our life is over. However, usually it is not the case and God does send relief, healing, rescue, and renewed strength.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9. “You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware less you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever Amen,” 2 Peter 3:17-18.