1. Overview: (NET) The psalmist laments his frailty and mortality as he begs the Lord to take pity on him and remove his disciplinary hand.
2. Structure (EBC+BKC)
A. Silence Before the Lord (vv. 1–3)
B. Prayer for Divine Illumination of life’s brevity (vv. 4–6)
C. Prayer for Deliverance (vv.7-8)
A′. Silence Before the Lord for divine discipline (v. 9)
B′. Prayer for Deliverance from divine discipline because of life's brevity (vv. 10–11)
C′. Prayer for being heard for the request (vv. 12–13)
The first set of A-C is an introduction, the 2nd of A'-C' is an expansion.
3. Repeated Word: Keep silent v.1 I do not sin with my tongue, I will put a muzzle over my mouth; v.2 I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak; v.9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth
v.2 He held back the urge to speak, but he eventually did in v.4-13
Why? (NET) the relationship (and tension) between silence and complaint in ancient Israelite lamentation (see v.9, he did not want to open his mouth to speak what the Lord had done to discipline him).
v.1 He decided to be silence in the presence of an evil person
Why? (NET) The psalmist wanted to voice a lament to the LORD (see vv. 4–6), but he hesitated to do so in the presence of evil men, for such words might be sinful if they gave the wicked an occasion to insult God.
4. Main ideas
v.2-3 Even though he knew what he supposed to do, but when he tried to obey his emotion intensified and finally he broke his silence. (EBC) Though he was submitting himself to the Lord, he experienced an agonizing pain within (cf. 32:2).
However, he did not complain, but try to plead for help. Not only to help him to get away from the discipline, but also ask for illumination so that he himself will understand the brevity of life. How did his complain and the understanding of the brevity of life relate?
In v.4-6, it seems that he asked God to help him to understand the purpose of the short life. However, in v.11 it seems that he asked God to hold the discipline on him because of its brevity. Which one is the purpose of stating the brevity of life?
v.11 You severely discipline people for their sins;
like a moth you slowly devour their strength.
Surely all people are a mere vapor.
(EBC) Those who live for the sake of living may soon be disgusted with the frailty of life. For the child of God, disappointments, adversity, and fatherly discipline are reminders of his father’s concern
(BKC) God rebukes people for sin and consumes their wealth like a moth eating a garment (v. 11; cf. Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12; James 5:2)
Summary and reflection: David seemed to be too consumed with his life and thought that the purpose of life is to accumulating wealth. However, God disciplined him in some way to remind him that his days is limited (e.g. through disease). Therefore, he asked God to hold His discipline, i.e. not to make his life so short.
Do I spend my life with God's purpose in mind? Have I ever experienced the discipline of God and tried not to complain, but just to plead before God?
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