Psalm 39
Psalm 39 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this. Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth — each man is but a breath. Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.”
In a day and age where every human on the planet is encouraged to scream into the microphone on social media, the opening lines of this Psalm seem to be a very far cry from where we currently exist. We are enticed to amplify our outrage and yell out our dissatisfaction. Silence is an unknown virtue in today’s world.
In fact, noise is all we know. Waiting and meditating before one speaks is a very foreign concept. Our thoughts are like a child climbing the ladder of a playground slide that leads to our mouth. There is no filter and nothing ever seems to slow them down. Just spew out whatever is in your noggin! Let your fingers tap busily away on the keyboard. That’s how we roll today!
But David begins this Psalm by stating a period of intentional silence. A time of reflection. A time where he let his thoughts gather together. I think David is closer to the directives of Scripture than we are in our world today.
We are told in Scripture:
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. (Proverbs 10:19-20)
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. (Proverbs 11:12)
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. (Proverbs 15:2)
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)
As one whose profession is heavily reliant on my ability to use my tongue well, sometimes these words cut deep. Many of my biggest regrets are in those moments when I did not choose to keep my tongue in check but instead chose to just let it fly! I bet you can identify as well.
As we dig deeper into this Psalm, let’s choose more moments to be like David and hold our tongue.
PRAY
Father God help me to be slow to speak.