Psalm 39 – I Will Watch
Psalm 39 – I will watch, the psalm begins. But what is the writer watching? And why?
Psalm 39 – I Will watch my Ways
Psalm 39 is another lament psalm, attributed to David. The first line of Psalm 39 – “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked,” says it all. Need I say more? So many sins begin with the tongue. Better to remain silent.
Perhaps he doesn’t want to say anything negative about God in the presence of unbelievers out of fear that it will cause them to remain firm in their unbelief. Certainly, David had no problem with crying out to God in strong terms in laments. Or perhaps he simply didn’t want to say something he would regret later. All wise choices.
The psalmist goes on to state:
“So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue.” (2-3)
He vows to be silent lest he get himself into trouble. But then his sorrow became too much for him, so he had to speak up.
The Short Span of Human Life
David goes on to talk about the shortness of this life.
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.” (4-6)
Still David maintains his hope in the Lord:
“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.” (8-9)
At first, he was silent because he believed it was God who caused his pain. If so, then God can also remove his suffering:
“I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.” (9-10)
He cries out in lament fashion, asking God to listen to him:
“When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth—surely everyone is but a breath. Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.” (11-12)
We are all like motheaten rags, but a whisper.
Psalm 39 – Look away from Me
The psalm concludes: “Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.” (13)
What an interesting ending. No words of hope or trust in God. Seeming words of despair and hopelessness. But are they?
One interpretation is that David is asking God to look away from him, another way of saying “spare me.” King James and American Standard versions translate this verse as: “O spare me, that I may recover strength.”
Still, why would you want God to turn his gaze away from you? Don’t we all want to bask in God’s gaze of love? I know I do. Or do I?
Sometimes to stand before our God can be too hard. God’s love exposes all of our faults and failings. It burns away our sins. This can be a painful process. So, yes, maybe I don’t always want to stand in the dazzling light of God’s love. It is too much for human eyes to endure.
Psalm 39 – I Will Watch
So, what is the writer watching besides his tongue? He is watching and waiting on the Lord. Our time on this earth is short at best. We are but a blip on the radar screen of life. All the more reason to watch our tongues lest we sin. All the more reason to watch and look for the Lord without whom there is no reason to hope.
Is there anything you are watching and waiting for? I would love to hear from you!
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 39 – Why Does Life Have to be so Hard? – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
(Please note – in order to help ensure you receive email with link to new book, please add my email, patricia@patriciamrobertson.com to your contact list. Some servers are quick to send newsletters to spam or other boxes.)
Leave a Reply