Psalms 39:1-13 - Homilies By C. Short

The afflicted man.

The old question of the retributive justice of God lies at the bottom of this psalm. Why should the righteous be afflicted and the wicked prosper, since the sins of the latter are greater and more numerous than those of the former? But he has determined that he will not discuss his difficulties before the wicked, lest he should seem to complain of the Divine ways. But when he can no longer restrain speech, this is what he says, in which we have two main divisions of thought.

I. AN AFFLICTED MAN 'S PERPLEXITIES . ( Psalms 39:1-6 .)

1 . He wishes to know when his sufferings shall come to an end — in death. ( Psalms 39:4 .)

2 . He is deeply impressed that human life should be so brief and fleeting. ( Psalms 39:5 .) Man is but a breath, so that it seems scarcely worth while to live.

3 . The restless exertions which men make here are to no purpose. ( Psalms 39:6 .) Men are but fleeting shadows, and all that they seek for is evanescent; they are troubled in vain.

II. THE AFFLICTED MAN 'S HOPE . ( Psalms 39:7-13 .) In God.

1 . The good man is waiting for God. ( Psalms 39:7 .) To unfold his purpose toward him more fully.

2 . To be delivered from all his transgressions. ( Psalms 39:8 .)

3 . His hope in God teaches him self-restraint. ( Psalms 39:9 .)

4 . Teaches him to pray for the Divine mercy to remove his sufferings. ( Psalms 39:10 .)

5 . He pleads for mercy because of the brevity of his life. ( Psalms 39:12 .) A stranger, "one who is but a passing guest;" a sojourner, "one who settles for a time in a country, but is not a native of it."

6 . And because it is near its close, ( Psalms 39:13 .) I shall soon be no more. Help before it is too late for help. Such faith in God, with such views of this life as being all, is something marvellous, when compared with our faith in him, who believe in an immortal life.—S.