Psalms 39:1-3 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

1). The Psalmist is determined not to say anything in the presence of unrighteous people that might give them occasion to criticise God. Once he is alone, however, he cannot keep silent (Psalms 39:1-3).

Psalms 39:1

‘I said, I will take heed to my ways,

That I sin not with my tongue,

I will keep my mouth with a bridle,

While the wicked person is before me.'

The Psalmist declares that he will ‘keep his ways'. That is, he will watch over them and control them. And his aim and purpose is in order that he might not sin with his tongue by bringing his doubts about life before the unrighteous while they are in his presence, or alternatively by bringing his doubts about the unrighteous who are in his thoughts, before men. The latter problem was a constant one in the Psalms. Why did the unrighteous flourish?

So he determines to keep a bridle on his tongue, lest he say anything that brings dishonour on God. Wise is the man or woman who keeps a watch over what comes from their mouths.

Psalms 39:2-3

‘I was dumb with silence,

I held my peace, even from good,

And my sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me,

While I was musing the fire burned,

Then spoke I with my tongue.'

Thus he was ‘dumb with silence', saying nothing, even about what was good, lest he slip up with his tongue. But such was the force of the thoughts that were flowing into his mind, that his sorrow was stirred, and his heart was hot within him. His meditations were so powerful that they were too much for him to hold in. And thus while he was musing a fire burned in his heart, and in the end he could no longer keep silence.

Psalms 39:1-3

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my moutha with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.b

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,