Psalms 39 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 39

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39:1   I said, “I will guard my ways,
    that I may not sin with my tongue;
  I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2   I was mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
  and my distress grew worse.
3     My heart became hot within me.
  As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:
4   “O LORD, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
5   Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
  Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6     Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
  Surely for nothing¹ they are in turmoil;
    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7   “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    My hope is in you.
8   Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9   I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    for it is you who have done it.
10   Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11   When you discipline a man
    with rebukes for sin,
  you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
    surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12   “Hear my prayer, O LORD,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
  For I am a sojourner with you,
    a guest, like all my fathers.
13   Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    before I depart and am no more!”

Footnotes

[1] 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

Commentary

Life in perspective; all is vanity.

v1-3: Guarding the lips, Ps 139.4; 141.3, particularly in the presence of the wicked, Ps 38.13-14. Sometimes silence is the way of wisdom. In this situation, David remained silent for a period, and finally felt compelled to speak

v4-6: Life is transitory, quickly passing. We need to know this truth; look to the Lord to teach us. All our labours must reflect this reality. For us, life seems long; but that is a false understanding.

v7-8: Through it all our only hope is in God, Ps 38.15. We need to blessing in this life, and therefore we pray for God's deliverance and blessing. See Ps 62.5; 87.7. Do we think we can live without Him? Do we think our lives are our own?

v9-10: The psalmist has suffered a divine rebuke for his wrong doing, as in Ps 38.11,13.

v11: The experience of one is true, in principle, for others too. God does deal with His people.

v12-13: In this difficult time, the psalmist looks to the Lord, depending on Him.