Psalms 39
Summary for Ps 39:1-13: Ps 39 a This prayer for rescue reflects the psalmist’s discouragement, which comes from having a limited perspective on his situation. 39:title b Jeduthun was a levitical singer appointed by David along with Asaph (1 Chr 9:16 c; 16:38 d; 25:1 e).Summary for Ps 39:1-3: 39:1-3 f Suffering in silence only intensifies the psalmist’s anguish, pain, and inner turmoil.
Summary for Ps 39:4-6: 39:4-6 g Because of his suffering and sin, the psalmist concludes that life is meaningless and fleeting (see Job 7:7-10 h; Isa 40:6-8 i). He had expected a wicked life to have those qualities (see Pss 37:2 j, 20 k; 103:15-16 l), but now whether a person is godly or not seems to be irrelevant.
Summary for Ps 39:4-5: 39:4-5 m how fleeting my life is: This perspective comes out of suffering (see 78:39 n; 89:47-48 o; 90:3-10 p). The human lifetime is but a moment to God (90:4 q), as temporary as a breath (see 39:11 r; 144:4 s).
39:8 t The idea that rebellion brings on suffering is a common thread in Pss 32 u, 38–41 v.
Summary for Ps 39:9-11: 39:9-11 w The psalmist links suffering with God’s discipline, assuming that it is punishment for his sin.
39:11 x The Lord uses discipline to correct his children (38:1 y, 3 z, 7 aa; 40:12 ab; see Prov 3:11-12 ac; Heb 12:5-6 ad).
39:12 ae A guest (or foreigner) had no rights of land ownership (see Lev 25:23 af). The patriarchs had lived as guests in Canaan (Ps 105:23 ag).
39:13 ah Unlike the psalmist’s earlier request that God stay close to him (38:21-22 ai), his present desire for God to leave him alone echoes Job’s disposition (Job 7:17-19 aj).
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