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Matthew Henry

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 39:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:4

Lord, make me to know mine end ,.... Not Christ, the end of the law for righteousness, as Jerom interprets it; nor how long he should live, how many days, months, and years more; for though they are known of God, they are not to be known by men; but either the end of his afflictions, or his, latter end, his mortal state, that he might be more thoughtful of that, and so less concerned about worldly things, his own external happiness, or that of others; or rather his death; see Job 6:11 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:5

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth ,.... These words, with the following clause, are the psalmist's answer to his own inquiries; or rather a correction of his inquiry and impatience, showing how needless it was to ask such questions, and be impatient to die, when it was so clear and certain a case that life was so short; not a yard or ell (forty five inches), but an handbreadth, the breadth of four fingers; or at most a span of time was allowed to man, whose days are few,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:6

Surely every man walketh in a vain show ,.... Or "in an image" F26 בצלם "in imagine", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis. ; not "in the image of the Lord", as the Targum; in the image in which God created man, for that is lost; nor in that which is stamped on men in regeneration; for every man does not walk in that; rather in the image of fallen man, in which every man is born and walks: or "in a shadow" F1 "In umbra", Gejerus; "instar... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:4

Lord, make me to know mine end - I am weary of life; I wish to know the measure of my days, that I may see how long I have to suffer, and how frail I am. I wish to know what is wanting to make up the number of the days I have to live. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:5

My days as a handbreadth - My life is but a span; σπιθαμη του βιου . And mine age is as nothing - כאין keein , as if at were not before thee. All time is swallowed up in thy eternity. Verily every man at his best state - נצב אדם כל col adam nitstab , "every man that exists, is vanity." All his projects, plans, schemes, etc., soon come to nothing. His body also moulders with the dust, and shortly passes both from the sight and remembrance of men. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:6

Walketh in a vain show - בצלם betselem , in a shadow. He is but the semblance of being: he appears for a while, and then vanisheth away. Some of the fathers read, "Although every man walketh in the image of God, yet they are disquieted in vain." He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them - He raketh together. This is a metaphor taken from agriculture: the husbandman rakes the corn, etc., together in the field, and yet, so uncertain is life, that he knows not who... 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

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