man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . See note on "moth", below. moth. Hebrew. 'ash. Forming the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), connecting man (' ish) with a moth ( 'ash ). Selah. Connecting human vanity with an abiding reality and a divinely provided resource prayer, and hope in Jehovah. See App-66 . read more
"When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity,Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth;Surely every man is vanity. (Selah)"This is a comment upon the dire results of being rebuked by God for iniquity. It is no light thing at all. "When God corrects a man for sin, he consumes what the man holds dear, just like a moth eats up clothes."[21] read more
Psalms 39:11. Like a moth— i.e. "As a moth consumes a garment." The Chaldee paraphrase has it, like a moth broken asunder; but the phrase is more properly applied to the moth's consuming other things, and not to the being itself consumed: thus Hosea 5:12. I will be to Ephraim as a moth; i.e. "I will consume him." and Isaiah 50:9. The moth shall eat them as a garment. read more
11. From his own case, he argues to that of all, that the destruction of man's enjoyments is ascribable to sin. read more
Psalms 39David seems to have composed this individual lament during a prolonged illness that almost proved fatal (cf. Job). He petitioned God to extend his days rather than to continue the chastening. This psalm is quite similar to the preceding one, but in this one David did not mention opposition from his enemies.Jeduthun, mentioned in the title, was one of David’s chief musicians (1 Chronicles 16:41-42). Perhaps David wrote the psalm for Jeduthun to perform or lead, or for the group of... read more
2. The importance of faith in God 39:7-13 read more
David needed relief. He spoke as though he felt God was chewing up his life as a moth eats a garment. The long duration of his affliction made him sense the brevity of life. God was disciplining him (cf. Hebrews 12:5-11)."God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world." [Note: C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 81.] read more
This is a Ps. of great pathos and beauty. The writer’s sore sickness, accepted as the punishment of sin (Psalms 39:9-11), 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 39:1-2). When he does speak it is to utter without bitterness his conviction of life’s brevity and nothingness (Psalms 39:3-6). He concludes with a humble prayer that though he is but a pilgrim on earth God may grant him... read more
(11) When.—This is unnecessary. With judgments for sin Thou chastenest a man.Rebukes.—The word rendered “reproofs” in Psalms 38:14, where see Note.Beauty.—Literally, Something desirable. (See margin.) Thou, like a moth (consuming a garment: see Pr. Bk. Version), causest his desirable things to melt. (For the image, singularly apt. and natural in a country where “changes of raiment” were so prized, and hoarded up as wealth, comp. Job 13:28; Matthew 6:19; James 5:2.) read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1-13
Psalm 38-39 The cries of the sickThe psalmist David felt that sometimes punishment for his sins took the form of sickness (e.g. Psalms 6:0) or opposition from those who envied or hated him (e.g. Psalms 25:0). Both elements appear again in the prayer of Psalms 38:0, which, being a confession of sin, was suitable to be offered with certain sacrifices.As the suffering David cries to God for mercy, he admits that, because of his sin, he deserves what he has got (38:1-4). He vividly describes the... read more