Psalm 39 - An Appeal For God's Mercy

The author of Psalm 39 is David. He tells us that apart from God, life is fleeting and empty. This is an appeal for God's mercy because life is so brief.

 

Psalm 39:1-3 - "I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence. 2-But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. 3-My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue."

 

David resolved to keep his tongue from sin; that is, he decided not to complain to other people about God's treatment of him. David certainly had reason to complain. He was the anointed king of Israel, but he had to wait many years before taking the throne. Then one of his sons tried to kill him and become king instead. But when David could not keep still any longer, he took his complaints directly to God.  We all have complaints about our job, money, or situations; but complaining to others  may make them think that God cannot take care of us. It may also look as if we blame God for our troubles. Instead, like David, we should take our complaints directly to God.

 

Psalm 39:4 - "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life."

 

Life is short no matter how long we live. If there is something important we want to do, we must not put it off for a better day. Ask yourself, "If I had only six months to live, what would I do?" Tell someone that you love him or her? Deal with an undisciplined area in your life? Tell someone about Jesus? Because life is short, don't neglect what is truly important to you.

 

Psalm 39:5,6 - "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. 6-Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro; He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it."

 

The brevity of life is a theme throughout the books of Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Jesus spoke about it (Luke 12:20). It is ironic that people spend so much time securing their lives on earth and spend little or no thought about where they will spend eternity. David realized that amassing riches and busily accomplishing worldly tasks would make no difference in eternity. Few people understand that their only hope is in the Lord.

 

Luke 12:20 - "But God said to him, 'You fool!' This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"

Psalm 39:10 - "Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand"

What did David mean when he asked God to remove the "scourge" because he was overcome by the "blow" of God's hand?   It may be a picture of the difficulties David was facing that caused him to feel as if he were being struck.  Just as a loving father disciplines his children, so God corrects us.