Psalm 39:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 39:1-6

David here recollects, and leaves upon record, the workings of his heart under his afflictions; and it is good for us to do so, that what was thought amiss may be amended, and what was well thought of may be improved the next time. I. He remembered the covenants he had made with God to walk circumspectly, and to be very cautious both of what he did and what he said. When at any time we are tempted to sin, and are in danger of falling into it, we must call to mind the solemn vows we have made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1

I said ,.... That is, in his heart; he purposed and determined within himself to do as follows; and he might express it with his mouth, and so his purpose became a promise; I will take heed to my ways ; as every good man should; that is, to all his actions, conduct, and conversation: it becomes him to take heed what ways he walks in; that they are the ways of God, which he directs to; that they are the ways of Christ, which he has left an example to follow in; and that they are according... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:2

I was dumb with silence ,.... Quite silent, as if he had been a dumb man, and could not speak; so he was before men, especially wicked men, and under the afflicting hand of God; see Psalm 39:9 ; thus he put his resolution into practice; I held my peace, even from good ; that is, he said neither good nor bad: this expresses the greatness of his silence: he did not choose to open his lips, and say anything that was good, lest evil should come out along with it; though this may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:3

My heart was hot within me ,.... Either with zeal for God; or rather with envy at the prosperity of wicked men, and with impatience at his own afflictions; while I was musing the fire burned ; not the fire of the divine word, while he was meditating upon it, which caused his heart to burn within him; nor the fire of divine love, the coals whereof give a most vehement flame, when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, and the thoughts of it are directed by the Spirit of God to dwell... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:1

I said, I will take heed to my ways - I must be cautious because of my enemies; I must be patient because of my afflictions; I must be watchful over my tongue, lest I offend my God, or give my adversaries any cause to speak evil of me. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:2

I held any peace, even from good - " I ceased from the words of the law," says the Chaldee. I spoke nothing, either good or bad. I did not even defend myself. My sorrow was stirred - My afflictions increased, and I had an exacerbation of pain. It is a hard thing to be denied the benefit of complaint in sufferings, as it has a tendency to relieve the mind, and indeed, in some sort, to call off the attention from the place of actual suffering: and yet undue and extravagant complaining... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:3

My heart was hot within me - A natural feeling of repressed grief. While I was musing - What was at first a simple sensation of heat produced a flame; the fire broke out that had long been smothered. It is a metaphor taken from vegetables, which, being heaped together, begin to heat and ferment, if not scattered and exposed to the air; and will soon produce a flame, and consume themselves and every thing within their reach. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:1

Verse 1 1.I said, I will take heed to my ways. David explains and illustrates the greatness of his grief by this circumstance, that, contrary to his inclination and resolution, he broke forth into the severest complaints. The meaning substantially is, that although he had subdued his heart to patience, and resolved to keep silence, yet the violence of his grief was such that it forced him to break his resolution, and extorted from him, if we might so speak, expressions which indicate that he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:2

Verse 2 2.I was dumb in silence. He now declares that this resolution of which he has spoken had not been a mere passing and momentary thought, but that he had shown by his conduct that it was indeed a resolution deeply fixed in his heart. He says, then, that he held his peace for a time, just as if he had been deaf, which was a singular manifestation of his patience. When he thus determined to be silent, it was not such a resolution as persons of a changeable disposition, who scarcely ever... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:3

Verse 3 3.My heart became hot within me He now illustrates the greatness of his grief by the introduction of a simile, telling us that his sorrow, being internally suppressed, became so much the more inflamed, until the ardent passion of his soul continued to increase in strength. From this we may learn the very profitable lesson, that the more strenuously any one sets himself to obey God, and employs all his endeavors to attain the exercise of patience, the more vigorously is he assailed by... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 39:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:3

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