Psalms 39:1
WHILE THE WICKED IS BEFORE ME] The visible prosperity of the wicked afforded the temptation to complain.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THE WICKED IS BEFORE ME] The visible prosperity of the wicked afforded the temptation to complain.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a Ps. of great pathos and beauty. The writer's sore sickness, accepted as the punishment of sin (Psalms 39:9), has impressed him with the frailty and vanity of human life. He refrains at first from all complaint lest his words should be sinful and harmful (Psalms 39:1). When he does speak it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even_ FROM GOOD] RM 'and had no comfort.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Complete silence proved impossible. Pent-up feeling found a safe relief in prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
VANITY] or, 'a breath' (Heb.).... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A VAIN SHEW] RM 'as a shadow,' like a phantom in a dream: the eager efforts of life are contrasted with the emptiness of their results.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT WAIT I FOR?] If life ends in vanity what is there to hope for? The answer is 'God,' and the meaning is not so much that God will be the soul's portion in the future life, as that God's presence here redeems life from its nothingness.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOOLISH] those who have mocked at his troubles.... [ Continue Reading ]
The characteristic tone of the whole Ps. is in these words. The writer accepts with reverent resignation all the facts and experiences of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is another v. summing up the philosophy of the Ps. MAKEST HIS BEAUTY, etc.] RM 'consumest like a moth his delights': see Isaiah 50:7; Matthew 6:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGER.. SOJOURNER] The fact that life is transient becomes here a plea for favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPARE ME] lit. 'look away from me,' 'avert thy frown.' RECOVER STRENGTH] lit. 'brighten up.' The day of life may be short, but the Psalmist seeks for sunshine while it lasts.... [ Continue Reading ]