Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 39

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 39 David seeks to control his tongue—Man is altogether vanity—He is a stranger and a sojourner on earth.
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
1 I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my ^atongue: I will keep my ^bmouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was ^ahot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the ^ameasure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether ^avanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew^a: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up ^ariches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8 ^aDeliver me from all my ^btransgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.	6^a every man walketh in a vain shew The very nature of the natural man is unto vanity, of that pride which is unto the things of the world whether they be power, wealth of position. He is also desposed to the desires of the flesh. David here denounces the vain things of the natural man and seeks to secure himself against them. David would have also seemed to attempt to deny the desires of the flesh, but therein we all have weakness and David did not prevail against them at all times but did fall.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. 10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost ^acorrect man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is ^bvanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a ^astranger with thee, and a ^bsojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.