HOLD NOT THY PEACE AT MY TEARS

Psalm 39 continues the theme of the preceding psalm. David has been seriously ill, almost to the point of death. However, he has been spared and the opposition of his enemies has temporarily ceased. He finds it difficult to understand his own suffering when set against the seeming prosperity of the wicked. He is tempted to complain but resolves to stay silent. Notwithstanding, the fire of emotion within him is still very strong, vv. 1-3. He seeks relief in prayer so that he may understand the transience of human life and the vanity of worldly aims, vv. 4-6. His only hope is in the Lord, to whom he turns in silent resignation, vv. 7-9; cp. Ps. 38. 15; 40. 1. Finally, he pleads on account of the frailty and shortness of human life and prays for relief and respite, vv. 10-13.

The psalm has similarities with Psalm 62 and there are parallels with the book of Job, v. 13. David’s prayer, cry and tears come before the Lord, and he sees himself as ‘a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were’, v. 12. ‘Strangers’ and ‘sojourners’ were aliens residing in a country to which they did not belong, having no rights of citizenship, Gen. 23. 4; Lev. 25. 23. Peter applies this to the Christian with some force, 1 Pet. 2. 11; cp. Heb. 11. 13. In addition, as the strangers and sojourners amongst them were especially commended to the care of Israel, Exod. 22. 21, so David pleads to be treated by the Lord in a similar way.

When we are reduced to tears in the Lord’s presence, we will discover ‘there is no door through which tears do not pass’. Tears have a message all their own! The literal rendering of our title reads, ‘be not silent at my tears’. He is looking to the Lord to hear and restore him, both physically and spiritually. Like David, we have every encouragement to look to the Lord, 1 Pet. 5. 6, 7. We marvel that the sinless One from heaven, in the days of His flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, Heb. 5. 7, in order to become a suitable High Priest to minister to us, 2. 17, 18. He not only answers our prayers but He fully understands our situation. Whilst He does not share our sinful nature, He most certainly shares our human nature, 2. 14.

However desperate you may feel today bring it to Him.