Psalm 39

Personal Observations:

Prayer/wisdom lit.

“for Jeduthun”??

The choir director is Jeduthun, the father of one of the three families of Levitical singers (see ; )

The choir director is Jeduthun, the father of one of the three families of Levitical singers (see ; )

We cannot be certain whether the intent is to acknowledge Jeduthun as author of the psalm and David as the one authorizing it or perhaps giving it a “Davidic” style, or whether David is the author and Jeduthun the “style” or the one responsible for its performance. It is difficult to making any absolute claims about these types of statements in the psalm headings.

We cannot be certain whether the intent is to acknowledge Jeduthun as author of the psalm and David as the one authorizing it or perhaps giving it a “Davidic” style, or whether David is the author and Jeduthun the “style” or the one responsible for its performance. It is difficult to making any absolute claims about these types of statements in the psalm headings.

Rydelnik, M., Vanlaningham, M., Barbieri, L. A., Boyle, M., Coakley, J., Dyer, C. H., … Zuber, K. D. (2014). Psalms. In The moody bible commentary (p. 793). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

(v.1-2) Introduction is David apparently makes a vow of silence, in word and deed and in doing so, his sorrow worsens.

(v.3) David’s heart was burning in consequence to this(clear metaphor, probably anger) and this leads him to prayer

(v.4-5) He asks God to put his finiteness before him. This transitions to the bigness of God and the smallness of man. The fraction of time that is mankind before the eternity that is God.

(v.6) David transitions to the darkness that awaits everyone in the end, references phantom (significance?); the bigness of death outweighs man’s riches and renders them useless of true value.

(v.7) These musings lead David to ask, “For what do I wait?” This is an important question for anyone who has that moment of clarity and recognition that death is on the horizon; in all our walks, everyday is a day closer to where we come to the door through which we all must pass. The hopelessness that is attached to these chain of thoughts is overwhelmingly depressing, but David knows the way out of this. His hope is not bound to the material things of this world, to its philosophies or pleasures. His hope is bound to God.

(v.8) David asks for deliverance from his sins; for protection from his enemies.

(v.9-11) God is the source of David’s muteness. God is actively inflicting reproofs (punishment?) on David because of sin. Is this tied to ? David returns to finiteness of mankind.

(v.12-13) David cries to God for a response to David’s angst. David is disconnected with God and is asking for peace. David is asking God to turn his gaze (judgment?) away from him that he may have peace; if it continues on, David will be completely broken.

Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

Read Passage

P1 Silent Grief Spoken(v. 1-6)

The Psalmist, bowed down with sickness and sorrow, is burdened with unbelieving thoughts, which he resolves to stifle, lest any evil should come from their expression, 1, 2. But silence creates an insupportable grief, which at last demands utterance, and obtains it in the prayer of verses 3 to 6, which is almost a complaint and a sigh for death, or at best, a very desponding picture of human life.

Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: (Vol. 2, p. 214). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.

P2 Perspective Hope to Confession (v. 7-11)

From verses 7 to 13 the tone is more submissive, and the recognition of the divine hand more distinct: the cloud has evidently passed, and the mourner’s heart is relieved.

Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: (Vol. 2, p. 214). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.

P3 Hope in the Midst of Grief(v. 12-13)

Intro:

The situation matches : silence in the presence of onlookers (38:12, 13; 39:2), divine action against sin (38:1–3; 39:9–11), hope in the Lord alone (38:15, 21, 22; 39:7). But the focus is different. In sickness has exposed sin, bringing need of forgiveness; in spiritual sickness has exposed the brevity of life, bringing longing for a period of brightness (13) before life’s transience runs its course.

The brevity of life and the sadness of death run throughout the Bible and the full revelation of the immortal world does not remove them. This life is precious. Its joys and loves may be transcended but they cannot be replaced. To be bereaved is ‘sorrow upon sorrow’ (); our own leaving of this life cannot be contemplated with unmixed equanimity, even though heaven is sure. David lamented the death of his little boy though knowing they would meet again () and here he laments the possible curtailment of his own earthly tenure.

As a plea for deliverance from divine rebuke for sin, shares many connections with . Both psalms speak of divine “rebuke” and “discipline” (cf. 38:1; 39:11) for sin as “blows,” “wounds,” or “bruises” (cf. 38:11; 39:10) from the “hand” of God (cf. 38:2; 39:10). In both psalms the narrator acknowledges personal sin as the cause of divine judgment (cf. 38:4–5, 18; 39:8, 11) and adopts an attitude of silent waiting in the presence of detractors (cf. 38:13–16; 39:1–3, 8–9). Both stress—although in different ways—the tenuous nature of human life (cf. 38:10, 17; 39:4–6, 11).

Motyer, J. A. (1994). The Psalms. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 511). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

Wilson, G. H. (2002). Psalms (Vol. 1, p. 625). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.