Psalm 39
A Basic Outline
The reason for silence, 1a
…lest I sin with my tongue
The occasion for silence, 1b
…while the wicked are before me
The extent of silence before the enemy, 2
…I held my peace even from good
The occasion for my prayer, 3
…my heart was hot…musing…the fire burned
My prayer, 4-13
.Request: Help me grasp my frailty, 4-6
…to know my end… my days… how frail…4
…indeed.. handbreadths..as nothing..vapor. 5
…like a shadow.. in vain.. doesn’t know..6
.Request: Deliver me from my sin, 7-8
…my hope is in You..deliver me..don’t make
.My response to sin’s consequences, 9
…I was mute..because it was You
.Request: Remove Your consequences, 10-11
…remove your plague..I am consumed
…You make beauty melt..every man is vapor
.Closing Request, 12-13
…hear me.. give ear.. do not be silent
…remove.. that I may regain strength
What sticks out this time?
David’s desperation. “You make his beauty melt away…before I go away and am no more.” What’s the cause of his desperation? “Deliver me from all my transgressions”.
What difference does this make?
Transgressions invite God’s discipline… God’s discipline is exhausting… I can ask for help in the midst of His discipline… The fact that God will discipline His children when they rebel motivates me to stay away from sin and compromise.
What sticks out?
“I will guard…lest I sin… I will restrain my mouth…”
What difference does it make?
I live in a world that devalues silence. If I don’t answer with a defense or attack then I’m considered weak and passive. David chose silence. Jesus was silent… Is. 53:7; 1 Pt 2:23. So silence is a really good option… a godly option. It’s better to be silent & falsely accused than to speak & be foolish.
“Then I spoke with my tongue: “Lord…” So even in my silence before men I can always bring my request to the Lord.
What sticks out?
Why does David want to know his own frailty? It looks like he moves from realizing he is frail to realizing all men are frail. Then he proclaims that his hope is in the Lord. Is he asking to understand his own frailty so that he will trust in the Lord alone?
What difference does this make?
I’m reminded of James’ instruction to pray without doubting. I’m reminded that I can ask the Lord for help even while I depend on myself for deliverance. Perhaps David is asking for the truth about his own weakness so that he can pray with single mindedness. It’s good to know the truth since it keeps you humble.
What sticks out?
The overall setting for the prayer is the consequences of David’s own sin. David is asking for deliverance from God’s discipline.
What difference does this make?
Will I allow myself this same privilege of asking for help in the mess I’ve caused? Will I extend mercy to someone in the midst of the mess they’ve caused? Will I follow God’s example as a parent and discipline my kids? Having disciplined my kids will I be merciful in response to their need?
Do I understand how kind & merciful You are? Really, really?