Psalm 39 - The Sounds of Silence
1 I decided, “I will watch what I say
and make sure I do not sin with my tongue.
I will put a muzzle over my mouth
while in the presence of an evil man.”
2 I was stone silent;
I held back the urge to speak.
When I was a young man, there was a popular song by Simon and Garfunkel, "The Sounds of Silence". Now this was a folk song in the age of the 60's protests, so it's message is not as uplifting as the psalms, but the title captures an important truth; Sometimes, the sounds of silence speaks much louder than any words that we might say. In this psalm, the writer is beset with difficulties and is surrounded by evil men. His mind was crying out to respond in kind, but his spirit was instructing him to keep his tongue. This was certainly an important truth that my parents taught me, "if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all!" was heart often in our household. This seems a foreign concept today when political leader, sports stars and other public figures seem to think it is appropriate to speak our whatever they are thinking. The psalmist knew better, but keeping silent in the face of adversity was not easy.
2 I was stone silent;
I held back the urge to speak.
My frustration grew;
3 my anxiety intensified.
As I thought about it, I became impatient.
You may share the psalmist's frustration when you hold back and refuse to speak, but in the end it much the wiser policy. As James said "See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, ..." (James 3:5-6) Responding in kind to the evil man will just inflame the fire and encourage more strife. In the end it's just not that important. In verse 5 the psalmist is reflecting on the shortness of life, and the insubstantial nature of this things of this time, including our troubles.
Wisdom dictates that we take the long view and call upon the Lord. A fierce argument and a pointed rebuttal may feel good for the moment, but in the end it won't solve the problem or win over the evil man. Only the mercy of the Lord can help and deliver, and when He answers, then you can be truly happy.
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing!
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.
13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy
before I pass away.
Now, as we meditate on silence and dependence on the Lord, let's listen to Karl Kohlhas sing his rendition of Psalm 39.
Psalm 39, Make Me Know my End, by Karl Kohlhase
Psalm 39
For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.
1 I decided, “I will watch what I say
and make sure I do not sin with my tongue.
I will put a muzzle over my mouth
while in the presence of an evil man.”
2 I was stone silent;
I held back the urge to speak.
My frustration grew;
3 my anxiety intensified.
As I thought about it, I became impatient.
Finally I spoke these words:
4 “O Lord, help me understand my mortality
and the brevity of life!
Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!
5 Look, you make my days short-lived,
and my life span is nothing from your perspective.
Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.
6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts.
Surely they accumulate worthless wealth
without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”
7 But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying?
You are my only hope!
8 Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion!
Do not make me the object of foolsʼ insults!
9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth
because of what you have done.
10 Please stop wounding me!
You have almost beaten me to death!
11 You severely discipline people for their sins;
like a moth you slowly devour their strength.
Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing!
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.
13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy
before I pass away.
The NET Bible
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