HEADING. ‘For the Chief Musician, for Jeduthun. A Psalm to/for David.' This Psalm is offered to the person responsible for the sacred music, or the choirmaster, and is of the Davidic collection. ‘To (or ‘for') David' may indicate that it was dedicated to David, written for the Davidic house, or ev... [ Continue Reading ]
1). THE PSALMIST IS DETERMINED NOT TO SAY ANYTHING IN THE PRESENCE OF UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE THAT MIGHT GIVE THEM OCCASION TO CRITICISE GOD. ONCE HE IS ALONE, HOWEVER, HE CANNOT KEEP SILENT (PSALMS 39:1). Psalms 39:1 ‘I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue, I will keep my... [ Continue Reading ]
2). HIS CONCERN WAS WITH HIS AWARENESS OF HIS OWN FRAILTY AND OF THE FACT THAT LIFE APPEARS ON THE WHOLE TO BE VAIN AND THAT A MAN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE POSSESSIONS THAT HE HAS BUILT UP ONCE HE IS DEAD. THUS AS HE LIES ON HIS SICKBED IT RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE VERY MEANING AND PUR... [ Continue Reading ]
3). HIS SOLUTION LIES IN HOPING IN YHWH AND WALKING RIGHTLY BEFORE HIM, BEING DELIVERED FROM ALL HIS TRANSGRESSIONS. MEANWHILE THEREFORE HE PRAYS THAT YHWH WILL RESTORE HIM TO HEALTH, WHILE RECOGNISING THAT HE HIMSELF THROUGH HIS ILLNESS EXPERIENCE IS BEING CORRECTED FOR HIS OWN SINS (PSALMS 39:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
4). RECOGNISING THE BREVITY OF A MAN'S LIFE ON THIS EARTH, IN COMPARISON WITH GOD'S, HE PRAYS THAT HE MAY BE RESTORED AND GIVEN A LITTLE MORE TIME BEFORE HIS LIFE IS FINALLY OVER SO THAT HE CAN MAKE GOOD USE OF IT. Psalms 39:12 Hear my prayer, O YHWH, And give ear to my cry, Hold not your peace... [ Continue Reading ]