Psalm 39 — Prayer of a Pilgrim

In this psalm, David begins by stating his intention not to speak in the presence of his opponents. He realised that there are times to be silent. Yet although he did so, he discovered that mere silence did not solve his concerns. He had to speak to someone because the issues that he had and felt disturbed him greatly. So he spoke to God about them.

What were the issues that burdened him? In verses 4 and 5, he mentions the shortness of his life. In this regard, he is like everyone else. Despite all the efforts people put into accumulating wealth, they will not have it for long. They cannot even be certain who will have it after they have gone. Of course, David recognised that this was part of God’s sovereignty since it was him who had fixed the number of years a person will live.

In verse 6, he mentions another issue that concerned him. David’s priority was to be delivered from breaking God’s law. If he did fall into sin, those who did not fear God (the fool) would mock him. Is there a connection between his sense of the shortness of life and the possibility of sinning? The third issue that David mentions indicates the connection.

In verses 7-11, David highlights the third issue, that of divine chastisement for sin. David knew that he had been under divine discipline for his sins, and this discipline, whatever it was, had shown him how weak he was, and how it had removed much that was valued by him. It is this realisation that explains his inner turmoil about shortness of life and his concern about his transgressions. 

Yet he mentions this concern while also stating that his hope is in God. His description of what he felt is similar to how the author of Hebrews describes chastisement when he says it is grievous to endure. David’s desperation to be relieved of this burden is clearly stated in his bold requests for a cessation of the chastisement.

Therefore he asked the Lord to listen to his tearful prayers, and give him peace. He knew that he was like his fathers, a sojourner on the earth, but he did not wish to pass his days under the frown of God. So he asked the Lord to look on him in another manner than that of chastiser.

We may wonder what happened to David as a result of his prayer? We are not told, although we can assume that the Lord answered his petitions. Yet, in the psalm, the stress is on the fact that in his troubles David spoke to the Lord rather than complaining to men about what he felt. The psalm teaches us how to deal with our spiritual dilemmas — speak to God about them.