Chapter Summary

The psalmist, bowed down with sorrow and sickness, is burdened with unbelieving thoughts and prays for help.

Discussion Questions for Psalms, Chapter 39

1. Psalm 39:1, "I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence." (ESV) What circumstances have you found it helpful to guard your mouth? How has that intentional refrain helped you honor The Lord and others?
2. Psalm 39:4, "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!" (ESV) What appears to be the heart behind David’s question? How does understanding our mortality impact our humility?
3. What specific things were making David very aware of the morality of man? How did he feel about it in this Psalm? What circumstances shaped that feeling?
4. Psalm 39:7, "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." (ESV) Here we see David go from looking at the fleeting life of man to waiting on The Lord. Why does he make this shift? How does David connect the two themes?
5. What did you think of David’s description of The Lord’s instruction? How does David respond to it?
6. Do you find common ground with David in this Psalm? What is it like seeing someone who we have seen God deliver struggle with silence and pain before The Lord?
7. What does it look like to accept The Lord’s instruction? How have you done this in your own life? How have you seen others do this with humility?
8. What did David mean when he said he was a "sojourner" in verse 12? (ESV) How does this Psalm still point to God’s mercy in light of His instruction? How does that mercy serve as the foundation to God’s instruction?
9. How did David view himself before The Lord? How do you view yourself in relation to God? How does God's Word teach us to maintain humility while also knowing who we are in Christ?
10. What did you take away from David’s expression of his need for deliverance? How does David maintain a heart of faith even when expressing feelings of despair?

Key Words/Phrase

Sorrow, v. 2.

Characters

God, David.

Strong Verse(s)

1