HOPE IN GOD ALONE

Passage: Psalms 39:1-13

Key verse: 7

NIV

Psalm 39[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(D)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
3     my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(I)
    let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
5 You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
    even those who seem secure.[b]

6 “Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
    in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(S)
8 Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
    do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
9 I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
    for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
    you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)—
    surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;(AG)
    do not be deaf(AH) to my weeping.(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(AJ)
    a stranger,(AK) as all my ancestors were.(AL)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”(AM)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  2. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to (A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will (B)guard my ways,
    that I (C)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was (E)mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3     My (F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O Lord, (G)make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and (H)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (I)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6     Surely a man (J)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[a] they are in turmoil;
    man (K)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    (L)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    (M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (N)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    (O)for it is you who have done it.
10 (P)Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
    with (Q)rebukes for sin,
you (R)consume like a (S)moth what is dear to him;
    (T)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 (U)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (V)a sojourner with you,
    (W)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (X)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    (Y)before I depart and (Z)am no more!”

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I will muzzle my mouth (1-6)

The Psalmist has encountered personal tragedy, but he made up his mind not to complain against God before unbelievers and wicked men. He does not want to be unfaithful to God, so he decided to muzzle his mouth and say nothing. But fire burned in his heart, and finally, he came before the Lord himself to ask about the end of his life. Would he continue to suffer all the rest of his days? As he prayed, he realized that in the light of eternity, life is but a breath.

2. My hope is in God (7-13)

Through suffering, he realized that men who strive to heap up wealth do not know who will get it. The only hope that a man can have is hope in God. So he asks God's forgiveness for his sins; he asks that God have mercy on him and restore his joy of life. Through suffering, he realized what is really valuable.

Prayer: Lord, remove from me a complaining heart; help me to put my hope in you alone.

One Word: Hope in God alone