Psalm 39, Part 1: Why Am I Suffering?

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. —Psalm 39:4, 5

As David neared the end of his life, he was suffering physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. “Incapable of repressing his emotions forever, the psalmist finally pours out his heart to God. There is in this psalm only one gleam of light, the profession of faith, ‘my hope is in thee’ (v. 7). Like Job, the psalmist is concerned with the problem of suffering under the rule of a good God.” David resolved not to sin by giving voice to his doubts, thereby strengthening those who were already angry with God (Psalm 39:1).

The more he holds his tongue, the more his repressed feelings boil.

He finally expresses his feelings with heated words (vv. 2, 3).

David does not understand why God created man and then gave him such a short life span. Life seems uncertain and the human body frail (v. 4).

Compared with eternity, the life of a man is simply a blink in time.

What is it man can accomplish in such a short period of time? Everything we do passes away and is not remembered (v. 5). Why try? Life, after all, is but a vapor (see James 4:13, 14).

“Life is so short and we accomplish so little during our brief lives that it is natural for all of us at times to inquire why God made us so.” “The psalmist sees the phantoms called men spending most of their energy amassing wealth, at the same time recognizing that they have no control over their wealth after death [v. 6].” The only thing David can see that makes life worthwhile is hope in the Lord (v. 7). He believes if God does not deliver him from his sins, the wicked will point to him as proof God does not protect even a righteous man (v. 8).

This will further embolden them in godlessness.

“I’m a pilgrim, and I’m a stranger; / I can tarry, I can tarry but a night; / Do not detain me, for I am going / To where the fountains are ever flowing.”