Expositor's Dictionary of Texts To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. 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. Psalm 39:9During 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. Psalm 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 and prayed aloud, "Oh spare me a little that I may recover my strength, before I go hence and be no more seen".' —Life of Benjamin Jowett. References.—XXXIX.—International Critical Commentary, vol. i. p. 344. XXXIX. 1.—R. C. Trench, Sermons in Westminster Abbey, p. 114. XXXIX. 1, 2.—C. Vince, The Unchanging Saviour, p. 21. J. B. Mozley, University Sermons, p. 223. XXXIX. 4.—J. Budgen, Parochial Sermons, vol. i. p. 157. XXXIX. 4, 5.—Bishop Bethell, Sermons, vol. i. p. 154. XXXIX. 12.—J. Budgen, Parochial Sermons, vol. i. p. 166. XL.—International Critical Commentary, vol. i. p. 350. XL. 3.—J. Stalker, The New Song, p. 9. XL. 5.—W. L. Alexander, Sermons, p. 191. XL. 7.—H. Scott Holland, Logic and Life, p. 110. XL. 7, 8.—Bishop Bethell, Sermons, vol. i. p. 478. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. Nicoll - Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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