Psalm 39:1 ¶ «To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.» 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. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot 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 measure 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 vanity. Selah. 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
This is very impressive from David, as a declaration and a
challenge for us. He will guard his tongue before the wicked. So many times we
are tempted to speak our mind when the best thing that can be said in front of
the wicked is nothing.
James 1:26 If any man among
you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own
heart, this man’s religion is vain.
James 3:2 For in many
things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man,
and able also to bridle the whole body. 3
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we
turn about their whole body. 4 Behold
also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds,
yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor
listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a
little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little
fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a
fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire
of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and
of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been
tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can
no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Amos 5:13 Therefore the
prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
He had said something like this just before.
Psalm 38:13 But I, as a
deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
In this we have a picture of Christ.
Isaiah 53:7 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
openeth not his mouth.
Matthew 27:12 And when he
was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not
how many things they witness against thee? 14
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor
marvelled greatly.
Notice some other similar sentiments expressed in verse 3.
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said,
I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word
was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with
forbearing, and I could not stay.
Ezekiel 3:14 So the spirit
lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my
spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Luke 24:32 And they said
one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
David laments at wanting to know his future, a future only God can
know. Here are some other similar thoughts.
Psalm 90:12 ¶ So teach us
to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 119:84 ¶ How many are
the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute
me?
Job 14:13 O that thou
wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy
wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
David laments also the shortness of his life in comparison to the
infiniteness of God.
Psalm 90:4 For a thousand
years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the
night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with
a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth
up…9 For all our days are passed away in
thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years
and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their
strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know
not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
This is also a recurring theme in Ecclesiastes as Solomon comments
on life.
Finally, this thought in the last verse of the passage is repeated
later.
Psalm 49:10 For he seeth
that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave
their wealth to others.
Psalm 39:7 ¶ And now, Lord,
what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8
Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the
foolish. 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 correct
man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely
every man is vanity. Selah. 12
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at
my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all
my fathers were. 13 O spare me,
that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
David acknowledges that his hope is only in the Lord. Later in Psalms
it will be noted;
Psalm 130:5 ¶ I wait for
the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they
that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Jacob declared in his prophecies regarding his sons;
Genesis 49:18 I have waited
for thy salvation, O LORD.
He had said before;
Psalm 25:11 For thy name’s
sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great…18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and
forgive all my sins.
While in verse 2 David held his tongue before the wicked here in
verse 9 he is silent before God’s rebuke. Look at verse 10.
Job 9:34 Let him take his
rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
Job 13:21 Withdraw thine
hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
Recall Psalm 38;
Psalm 38:1 ¶ «A Psalm of
David, to bring to remembrance.» O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither
chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For
thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of
thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:
as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5
My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go
mourning all the day long. 7 For my
loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my
flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I
have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
See how David pleads for God’s mercy for his sins lest he die. Job
said in his confusion and pain;
Job 10:20 Are not my days
few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to
the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
These are prayers that speak to each of our hearts if we are honest.
No comments:
Post a Comment