David
Psalm 39
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1I 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.
2I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5Behold, 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.
6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12Hear 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.
13O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
Summary
Psalm 39 is a meditative lament on the brevity of life and the vanity of human striving. David resolves to guard his tongue and keep silent before the wicked, but his sorrow burns within him until he speaks. He asks the LORD to make him know his end and the measure of his days, confessing that man at his best state is altogether vanity. He reflects on the futility of heaping up riches without knowing who will gather them, and then turns to God as his only hope: "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." He prays for deliverance from transgressions, for the removal of God’s stroke, and for grace to recover strength before he departs.
The major themes are the brevity of life, vanity, silence, hope, and repentance. Practically, the psalm teaches that honest reflection on mortality leads to hope in God rather than in riches or self. The great lesson is that knowing our days are a handbreadth turns our hope to God alone.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 39
LORD, make me to know my end and the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. You have made my days as a handbreadth; every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Keep me from walking in a vain show or heaping up riches without knowing who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions and make me not the reproach of the foolish. Remove Your stroke from me, for I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. Hear my prayer and hold not Your peace at my tears, for I am a stranger and sojourner with You. Spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence and be no more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does meditating on the brevity of life change my priorities?
- 2What "vain show" am I tempted to walk in?
- 3How can I honestly say, "What wait I for? my hope is in thee"?
- 4Where do I need to guard my tongue as David did?
Related Psalms
Psalm 38
“O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
A penitent lament under discipline, waiting for the Lord.
Read morePsalm 32
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
The joy of confessed sin forgiven; instruction to trust in the Lord.
Read morePsalm 90
“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.”
A prayer of Moses on life’s brevity, asking God to teach us to number our days.
Read morePsalm 49
“Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:”
A wisdom psalm on the folly of trusting wealth; death levels all.
Read morePsalm 62
“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.”
Rest in God alone, my rock and refuge; pour out your heart to Him.
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