“Jeduthun” (superscription), was probably Ethan, the well-known director of the temple choir (see the notes on 1 Chron. 6:31-48).
The psalm is composed of three key parts.
Second, when he can contain himself no more, he utters his cry of distress, centering in the innate frailty of man which he feels at present so acutely (verses 4-11).
Finally, he presents his petition to God, who will certainly regard his tears and spare him (see verses 12-13).
Psalm 39 is an exceptionally heavy lament which compares with Job 7 and a lot of Ecclesiastes.
It also carries on the here-today-gone-tomorrow with a new twist, an application to all men, especially the psalmist.
In this intense lament, David will break his initial silence with two rounds of requests and reflections about the brevity and burdens of life.
I. Introduction: David’s Silence (39:1-3).
II. Round One: The Brevity and Burdens of Life (39:4-6).
A. His Request for Perspective (39:4);
B. His Reflections on Perspective (39:5-6).
III. Round Two: The Brevity and Burdens of Life (39:7-13).
A. His Reflection on Hope (39:7);
B. His Requests and Reflections on Providence (39:8-11);
C. His Requests for Relief (39:12-13).
Psalm 39:1 I 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.
James 3:6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
No, man cannot tame his tongue.
Both of these Scriptures above tell us why it is important for Christians to turn their tongue over to God.
Psalm 39:2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, [even] from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
I was dumb with silence. He was as strictly speechless as if he had been tongueless—not a word escaped him. He was as silent as the dumb.
I held my peace, even from good. Neither bad nor good escaped his lips. Perhaps he feared that if he began to talk at all, he would be sure to speak amiss, and, therefore, he totally abstained. It was an easy, safe, and effectual way of avoiding sin, if it did not involve a neglect of the duty which he owed to God to speak well of his name. Our divine Lord was silent before the wicked, but not altogether so, for before Pontius Pilate he witnessed a good confession, and asserted his kingdom. A sound course of action may be pushed to the extreme, and become a fault.
And my sorrow was stirred. Inward grief was made to work and ferment by want of vent. The pent up floods are swollen and agitated. Utterance is the natural outlet for the heart's anguish, and silence is, therefore, both an aggravation of the evil and a barrier against its cure.
Psalm 39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] spake I with my tongue, Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it [is; that] I may know how frail I [am].
Psalm 39:10 Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand.
Psalm 39:12 Hear 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]."
BooksOfTheBible/Charles Spurgeon