Psalms 39:11 - Exposition

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity . The calamities which God sends on a man are of the nature of "rebukes" addressed to his spirit. They are intended to teach, instruct, warn, deter from evil-doing (see Job 36:8-10 ). Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth ; or, "thou dost consume, as by a moth, what he prizes;" i.e. his health, his strength, "all wherein he has joy and satisfaction" (Hengstenberg). As a moth corrodes a beautiful garment, so does thy displeasure and heavy hand pressing on him corrode and destroy all which constituted his delight and glory. Surely every man is vanity (comp. Psalms 39:5 ad fin .). This has become a sort of refrain, terminating the second as well as the first part of the psalm (comp. Psalms 107:8 , Psalms 107:15 , Psalms 107:21 , Psalms 107:31 ; Ecclesiastes 2:1 , Ecclesiastes 2:11 , Ecclesiastes 2:15 , Ecclesiastes 2:19 , Ecclesiastes 2:21 , Ecclesiastes 2:23 , Ecclesiastes 2:26 ; Isaiah 9:12 , Isaiah 9:17 , Isaiah 9:21 ).