Psalm 39: Looking for Help at the Right Place

This Psalm is an “individual lament.” This is a poetic prayer asking God to step in and change a desperate situation. This is the late-night cry of the soul out to God about the dark providences' frail humans face in a fallen world full of evil spirits, evil people, faltering friends, and a cursed natural order. A Hymn praises God for who He is or thanks Him for what He has done. A lament begs God for help in times of crisis. Most laments include: 1) An address to God; 2) Complaint; 3) Confession of trust in God; 4) Petition to God; 5) Words of assurance; 6) Vow of praise.

Our Bible study rule for this week is:

RULE #2: Interpret each passage according to the correct meaning of the words used in the verse.  For serious study, use a dictionary and a concordance to be sure of what the key words mean. Each context will limit the possible meanings for each word. Different translations, commentaries, and Hebrew or Greek lexicons are additional sources to help you see the range of nuances each term has and how this context limits those choices. (Think of the English term: trunk. What are some of the possible meanings? How does the context, “The car’s trunk was scratched,” limit the possible meanings?)

   I. Silence before the LORD (Yahweh). vs 1–3 

      A. Address to God: I am going to hold my peace in front of the wicked. vs. 1

           1. I don’t want to be irreverent to God and sin with my mouth.

           2. I don’t want to give evil people additional reasons to blaspheme God.

      B. Complaint: My silence increased my internal agonizing pain.  vs. 2

           1. I kept my murmuring from coming out of my mouth.

           2. I am submitting to God, but I must call on Him for help

      C. Complaint: My emotions were not as easy to control as I thought. vs. 3

           1. I need help.

           2. I must go to God in prayer.

  II. A prayer for the gift of God’s wisdom and discernment. vs. 4–6

      A. Petition to God: Help me come to terms with how short life is. vs. 4

      B. Address to God: Life is brief. I want to go miles, instead I go inches. vs. 5

      C. Address to God: Humans are mortal and can’t control what happens. vs. 6

          1. Compared to God, men are not that important

          2. After death, they have no significant say in their affairs

III. A prayer for salvation. vs. 7–8

      A. Confession of trust: My trust is in the Lord (Adonai).  vs. 7

           1. There is no place else for the righteous to go.

           2. I hope in and wait for the Lord’s salvation.

      B. Petition to God: Save me from all of my violations of your law. vs. 8

           1. Save me from the power of sin.

           2. Save me from the love of and control of sin.

     C. Petition to God: Do not let the fools of the earth laugh me to scorn. vs. 8

IV. Silence before the Lord. vs. 9

      A. Address to God: Lord, I was silent partially because I know You allowed this. vs. 9 

      B. Acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and secret providence vs.9

          1. God may be using sickness, old age, or evil people to bring this chastisement.

          2. God chastises through secondary means those whom He loves.

          3. This difficult thing has been the Lord’s will up until now.

          4. I willingly accept this is for my ultimate good even though I do not understand

 V. A prayer for grace, strength, and deliverance. vs. 10–11

      A. Petition to God: I repent of my sin, remove the spanking from me. vs. 10

      B. Address to God: Men are frail, life is brief, your chastisement is strong. vs. 11

          1. God rebukes His people when they sin

          2. God disciplines His people when they sin

          3. Covenant violators receive the futility curse for their rebellion

VI. A prayer for restoration to fellowship. vs. 12–13

      A. Petition to God: Yahweh, please answer my prayer. vs. 12a

           1. Prayer for forgiveness.

           2. Prayer for deliverance, salvation.

      B. Address to God: God, you are great and I am not. vs. 12b

           1. I am an illegal alien before you. I don’t deserve blessings.

           2. I am waiting for Your promises to be fulfilled like my fathers.

      C. Petition to God: LORD, I repent, remove the chastisement. vs. 13

           1. I long to be restored to close fellowship with You.

           2. I want to find my joy in you again.

           3. I am a weak human, have mercy on me. (Made from dust.)

Lessons to Live By:

1. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. When God chastises us for sin, it is time to speak a genuine prayer of repentance. The pain awakens us to how deeply we have sinned against a holy God who hates all sin.

2. We should fear and reverence God, even when in deep pain. We should honestly but reverently express our souls to Yahweh in prayer.

3. The Bible tells us that we should number our days, because life is short. (17,338 days) We need the biblical wisdom to not live for the now, but to live for eternity. If you belong to God, you will have your best life later. Heaven is not here and is not yet.

4. Keep short accounts with God. Stay clean (1 John 1:9) confessing your sin, living lives of repentance and faith, so that you can also stay close to God in sweet fellowship.

5. Human pride is a dangerous thing. God is great, men are frail. God is sovereign, men are slaves. God is holy, men are sinners. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.