Psalms 39 - Introduction

This Psalm, which is pronounced by Ewald to be "indisputably the most beautiful of all the elegies in the Psalter," is a sequel to the preceding one. The situation of the Psalmist is in the main the same. Prolonged sickness has brought him to the very edge of the grave. But the crisis of suffering is over, and the taunts of his enemies have ceased for the time.

The Psalm consists of four stanzas, the first three containing three verses each, and the fourth four verses, which fall into two pairs.

The outline of the contents is as follows:

i. As he compares his lot of suffering with the prosperity of the wicked, the Psalmist is tempted to murmur, and resolves to meet the temptation by silence. But the fire of emotion refuses to be suppressed (Psalms 39:1-3).

ii. He is forced to seek relief in prayer that he may be taught to understand the transitoriness of human life and the vanity of worldly aims (Psalms 39:4-6).

iii. Thus he is brought to feel that his only hope is in Jehovah, to Whom he turns in silent resignation (Psalms 39:7-9).

iv. Then, pleading the frailty and the shortness of human life, he prays for relief and respite (Psalms 39:10-13).

In order rightly to understand this Psalm, as well as Psalms 38, it must be remembered (1) that sickness was popularly regarded as a proof of God's displeasure: (2) that to ancient Israel it seemed that death must be an interruption of fellowship with God (Introd. p. xciii ff.).

This Psalm, like Psalms 38, 40, has been regarded by some critics as the utterance of the nation rather than of an individual. But however well it may admit of such an application, this can hardly have been the original meaning.

The Psalm is closely connected in thought and language with Psalms 38 Cp. Psalms 39:2; Psalms 39:9with Psalms 38:13-14; Psalms 39:7 with Psalms 38:15; Psalms 39:8 with Psalms 38:16; Psalms 38:10-11 with Psalms 38:1-3; Psalms 38:11. It is also related to Psalms 62. Both Psalms are marked by the same hope in God, and the same view of the vanity of life: and in both the word ak, -only" or -surely," is characteristic. The parallels with the Book of Job should also be noticed. See note on Psalms 39:13.

The title should be rendered, For the Chief Musician Jeduthun. Jeduthun, whose name appears again in the titles of Psalms 62, 77, is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:41 f.; Psalms 25:1 ff.; 2Ch 5:12; 2 Chronicles 35:15, along with Heman and Asaph, as one of the directors of the Temple music. He appears to have been also called Ethan (1 Chronicles 15:17 ff.).