psalm-39:7

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 39:7

(7) And now, Lord . . .—“If such is man’s condition, what,” says the psalmist, “is my expectation?” We seem to hear the deep sigh with which the words are uttered; and we must remember that the poet can turn for comfort to no hope of immortality. That had not yet dawned. The thought of God’s mercy, and the hope of his own moral deliverance, these form the ground of his noble elevation above the oppressive sense of human frailty. The LXX. and Vulg. give it very expressively:—“And now what is my... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 39:9 During the suffering of his last illness Calvin was heard repeating the words of Hezekiah: 'I did mourn as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward,' followed by those of this Psalm; 'I was dumb; I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it.' John Ker. Psalms 39:13 There is no mistaking the reality which prayer, in the sense of communion with God, was to him. When he heard of his appointment as Master he was staying in a friend's house. 'He leant his head against the mantelpiece... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 39:1-13PROTRACTED suffering, recognised as chastisement for sin, had wasted the psalmist’s strength. It had been borne for a while in silence, but the rush of emotion had burst the floodgates. The psalm does not repeat the words which forced themselves from the hot heart, but preserves for us the calmer flow which followed. It falls into four parts, the first three of which contain three verses each, and the fourth is expanded into four, divided into two couples.In the first part (Psalms... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 39:0 Deep Soul Exercise in View of Man’s Frailty and Nothingness 1. The vanity of life (Psalms 39:1-6 ) 2. Self-judgment and prayer (Psalms 39:7-13 ) This Psalm is connected closely with the preceding one and shows deep soul exercises. In the midst of trial, with God’s hand resting upon the sufferer, he had been silent before his enemies. Before the Lord he did not maintain silence but pours out his heart, confessing the vanity of his fleeting life which appears to him as a... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 38:0 An appeal to God from chastisement because of iniquity (Psalms 38:1-4 ). The mental anguish is described in figures of physical disease, and yet it is not impossible that such disease may have been part of the chastisement (Psalms 38:5-8 ). The desertion of friends and the opposition of enemies also entered into it (Psalms 38:10-17 ). There are verses susceptible of an application to Christ, but others would prevent its application as a whole to him. Psalms 40:0 Messianic (compare... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 39:6-13

I have made no break or interruption in these verses, because the subject through the whole is one and the same. Under several very striking and elegant similitudes, the Psalmist in his prayer shows the shortness of life, and the vanity of all earthly things to satisfy the desires of the soul; and from hence takes occasion to seek an interest in the favour and love of God, to guide him, as a stranger and a sojourner, safely home through the whole of the wilderness state. And no doubt, if this... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 39:7

Sacrifice and oblation. Neither bloody nor unbloody sacrifices of the law will do. (Menochius) --- Pierced ears. Septuagint and St. Paul read, a body thou hast fitted to me, Hebrews x. 5. (Haydock) --- Nobilius mentions, that he found the reading of the Vulgate in one Greek manuscript in Eusebius, &c. --- The Arabic has both. "Thou hast prepared a body for me, and opened my ears." (Calmet) --- Both are, in effect, of divine authority. The version adopted by St. Paul, cannot be rejected,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 39:7-13

7-13 There is no solid satisfaction to be had in the creature; but it is to be found in the Lord, and in communion with him; to him we should be driven by our disappointments. If the world be nothing but vanity, may God deliver us from having or seeking our portion in it. When creature-confidences fail, it is our comfort that we have a God to go to, a God to trust in. We may see a good God doing all, and ordering all events concerning us; and a good man, for that reason, says nothing against... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 39:1-13

The Believer's Attitude in View of the Apparent Happiness of the Godless. To the chief musician, even to Jeduthun, or Ethan, the name of one of David's chief choristers, who was the leader of a family or choir of singers, active chiefly in the liturgical part of worship, a psalm of David. v. 1. I said, I will take heed to my ways, to his entire manner of thinking and acting, that I sin not with my tongue, namely, by murmuring and complaining over his own misfortune as compared with the good... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 39:1-13

Psalms 39:0To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:I will keep my mouth with a bridle,While the wicked is before me.2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good;And my sorrow was stirred.3 My heart was hot within me;While I was musing the fire burned:Then spake I with my tongue,4 Lord, make me to know mine end,And the measure of my days, what it is;That I may know how frail I... read more