Presented, December 16, 2007
“Lord, make me to
know my end”
PSALM 39
Tonight, we discuss another psalm of David. This is a psalm written by David and like so many, set to music. It was delivered to “the Chief Musician” for use in worship. This psalm mentions Jeduthun, whom we find to be the king’s (David’s) seers (2 Chron. 35:15) and a musician (1 Chron. 25:1,3) in the house of the Lord. Vs. 3 also mentions that he prophesied giving thanks and praise to God.
This is another psalm where we do not know the specific occasion. But it is evident that David had sinned against God and asks for his forgiveness and mercy. In this psalm we find David holding his tongue lest he sin, but he cannot keep it any longer, which may or may not have involved sin. He then turns to God.
Let us notice some lessons from this psalm and make application to our lives.
I. I. A time to keep silent (1-3)
a.
Keeping our peace for awhile (1-2)
David said to himself that he would take steps to ensure that he did not sin
with his tongue.
In vs. 1 he mentions keeping his mouth with a bridle (or muzzle) which
completely silenced him.
In vs. 2 he notes that he was (as if) dumb with silence (completely unable to
talk). Even facing his enemies – he held his peace and said nothing. Not even
good things (which would not be wrong within themselves). This could mean that
he realized that to say anything in this circumstance would be a waste of his
breath.
Consider the example of Jesus before Pilate where we are told in Matthew
27:12-14 that even as He was being accused he answered Him nothing. To speak
would be to thwart the will of God.
b.
We need to understand the need to
control our tongues.
James 3:2 speaks of the one who can control his tongue can control all things.
James 1:19 – be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
James 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle
his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
We must constantly remind ourselves that there IS a time to keep silent – Eccl.
3:7.
It is especially true that we watch what we say when we are in the midst of our
enemies (Colossians 4:5 speaks of walking in wisdom before those who are
outside; Matthew 7:6 which speaks of casting our pearls before swine).
c.
Then anger caused David to speak (3)
David’s speech here can be taken one of two ways:
- Either he, in anger, could restrain himself no longer and spoke thereby
getting himself in trouble and sinning.
- OR He directed his burning heart toward God and uttered the words of the
next few verses. If so, there is a lesson for us in this – cast your cares upon
Him! 1 Peter 5:7.
James 5:13 tells us that if we are suffering, we ought to pray
II. II. Understanding the brevity of life (4-7)
a.
A request for wisdom about life (4)
A reality check we must always keep in mind is that our lives are only for a
short while. As David says here, they are but a vapor (see also James 4:14) and
then it is gone.
The wise man gets this. Solomon spoke of it in Ecclesiastes often. He notes
that death is the great equalizer of all things in this life. Note Ecclesiastes
7:2 which says, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of
feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.”
In the context of James 4:13-17 we find that in all we do, it ought to be with a
realization of the uncertainty of life.
This realization is what keeps us as Christians in check.
Later, in another Psalm David would pray, “So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (90:12).
b.
A realization that God is in control
(5). He notes that God sees man’s time in a totally different light than we
do. For Him, it is very short. Just like Peter noted in 2 Peter 3:8 where it
says that with the Lord a 1000 years is like a day and visa-versa.
David also notes, that every man at his best is but vapor. Let us
understand that we ARE important to God. But let us NEVER think that we are so
important that He can’t get along without us!
c.
Life is brief (6). For a commentary
on this verse, read the book of Ecclesiastes. The point is that no matter
what we do or how much we accomplish in this life, we will die – and someone
else will gather what is left. Solomon’s dilemma was in the realization
that the gatherer might be a fool (Eccl. 2:18-21).
That is why we should heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay
up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven…for
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
d.
David’s hope is God (7). While David
is uncertain about the time of life (when it will end and what will happen) he
knows where his trust lies – IN God.
What is our hope built upon? Is it upon the solid rock of Christ? Romans
15:13, Paul prays that the hope of God would fill them with joy and peace in
believing.
Hebrews 6:29 speaks of this hope as an anchor. 1 Peter 1:3 speaks of our living
hope, etc.
III. III. The correction of God (8-11)
a. In these verses we can see that David acknowledges that he has done wrong. And as he continues his prayer, he knows that he needs God.
b.
We need God’s deliverance (8)
Ultimately, only God can deliver us from our sins. Only He can forgive us.
Today that means that we submit to His terms of forgiveness. – through the blood
of Jesus.
But beyond needing God’s forgiveness, David also requests that he not be made
a reproach of the ungodly (foolish). David does not want the name of God to
be blasphemed because of his sins (like it was when he committed adultery – 2
Samuel 12).
We ought to pray to God that whatever we do, no matter how foolish, that it will
not bring reproach to His name – AND that we will always keep that at the
forefront of our minds BEFORE we do something wrong!
c.
Before God we CANNOT answer (9).
In this life, man tries to make excuses and justify his sinful conduct. You
must realize you can’t do that before God.
David was enduring reproach, but he knew he could not argue with God about it.
Deep down, he knew He was guilty.
I have heard of individuals who say they will challenge God when they stand
before Him in judgment. NO YOU WON’T!
Consider Job when his wife told him to curse God and die. Job 2:10 says, “You
speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God,
and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
Consider also the penitent thief on the cross. At first they mocked Jesus, but
then he rebuked the other thief realizing that Jesus had done nothing wrong.
(Luke 23:40-41)
Philippians 2:9-10 – every knee will bow and tongue will confess (not argue
with) Him.
d.
When God punishes, only He can restore
(10-11)
But David asks for God’s mercy and that He would remove the suffering David was
enduring. In this David knows that his ONLY hope of relief is God. What God
starts He will finish.
It was God who restored Job. It was God who restored Nebuchadnezzar as king of
Babylon (Daniel 4). Over and over, it was when God willed that punishment
against Israel ceased. Think also of the plagues of Egypt and Pharaoh. It was
God who raised Jesus and restored and exalted Him (Phil. 2:9).
When we sin against God, we need Him to restore us. That will only happen
through Jesus Christ. That is what reconciliation is about. Romans 5:10 says,
“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of
His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Also 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
God can ALSO keep punishment going (11). He can make it last longer than anything man can do. Matthew 10:28. But don’t forget Hebrews 12:5-11 which speaks of God’s chastening. When He chastens He does it because He loves us.
IV. IV. Hear my prayer (12-13)
a.
Again, David covets God’s attention
(12)
His prayer consists of two qualities – 1) Humility. David realizes where he
stands in comparison to God. We read here of his cries to God.
2) Sincerity and earnestness – again note how he is crying and in tears. Think
of the times when on cries – sometimes in sadness, but at other times it is the
last resort in desperation to receive something needed. Like the sinner who
realizes he is guilty before God and needs His forgiveness. How often do our
prayers for forgiveness ascend with tears in our eyes at what we have done?
True repentance will call for that at times (cf. Psalm 6:6, “I am weary with my
groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.”
b.
He realizes he is a stranger and
sojourner here (12)
Note in this phrase it says, “I am a stranger WITH You” not “TO you”. David is
on God’s side. He wants to be right with God. He sees how God has been
unjustly accused and so has he. 1 Peter 2:11, We are sojourners and pilgrims
here.” Are we?
c.
David desire the opportunity to regain
strength (prove himself) before it is too late (13).
David concludes his prayer asking again for God to spare him. In this phrase
there is a realization that reconciliation must take place BEFORE “I go away and
am no more.”
From this let us never forget that if we are to make our lives right with God,
NOW is the time. When this life is over, there will be NO second chance.
Hebrews 9:27 says that after we die, all that remains is the judgment. What
will we do about that now?
And thus we see another psalm and the lessons we can learn from it. Truly, God is worthy of our praise, especially when we realize what we are and what He has done for us. David understood these things well and wrote of them in this psalm. We ought to be grateful for the words of David and God’s guidance in their writing and preservation. But how grateful are we? Think about that!