Psalm 39:13
Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more."
Turn Your gaze away from me
This phrase reflects a deep sense of humility and awareness of human frailty. The Hebrew root for "gaze" is "panah," which means to turn or face. In the context of the psalm, David is expressing a desire for relief from God's intense scrutiny or discipline. Historically, this reflects the understanding that God's gaze can be both protective and corrective. Theologically, it acknowledges God's omnipresence and the weight of His holiness, which can be overwhelming to the sinful human condition. David's plea is not for abandonment but for a reprieve, highlighting the tension between divine justice and mercy.

that I may again be cheered
The phrase "be cheered" comes from the Hebrew "balag," which conveys a sense of joy or brightness. David longs for a return to a state of joy and peace, which he associates with God's favor. This reflects the biblical theme that true joy is found in the presence of God. Historically, this aligns with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine favor as essential for well-being. Theologically, it underscores the belief that God is the source of all comfort and joy, and that His presence brings life and restoration.

before I depart
The word "depart" is translated from the Hebrew "halak," meaning to go or walk. In this context, it refers to the inevitability of death. David is acutely aware of the brevity of life, a recurring theme in wisdom literature. This reflects the biblical understanding of life as a temporary journey, emphasizing the importance of living in right relationship with God. The phrase serves as a reminder of human mortality and the urgency of seeking God's favor and forgiveness.

and am no more
This phrase emphasizes the finality of death. The Hebrew "ayin" means "nothing" or "not," indicating a state of non-existence. David acknowledges the transient nature of human life, echoing the sentiments found in Ecclesiastes about the fleeting nature of earthly existence. Historically, this reflects the ancient worldview that life is a precious, yet temporary gift. Theologically, it points to the hope of eternal life beyond physical death, a hope that is fully realized in the New Testament through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This phrase invites reflection on the eternal perspective, encouraging believers to live with an awareness of their eternal destiny.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 39, David is expressing his deep anguish and desire for relief from God's discipline.

2. God
The recipient of David's plea, God is portrayed as the one who disciplines and whose gaze can bring both comfort and distress.

3. Israel
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of David's life and his role as king of Israel is significant.

4. Mortality
The theme of human mortality and the brevity of life is a central focus in this Psalm.

5. Divine Discipline
The event of experiencing God's discipline is implied, as David seeks relief from it.
Teaching Points
Understanding Divine Discipline
Recognize that God's discipline is an expression of His love and desire for our growth. It is not meant to harm but to refine us.

The Brevity of Life
Reflect on the shortness of life and the importance of living with an eternal perspective. This awareness should drive us to live purposefully and wisely.

Seeking God's Presence
While David asks for God's gaze to turn away, it is crucial to seek God's presence and guidance in our lives, understanding that His gaze is ultimately for our good.

Finding Joy in God
Even in times of discipline or distress, seek to find joy and comfort in God's promises and His eternal plan for us.

Preparing for Eternity
Use the awareness of life's brevity to prepare for eternity, focusing on spiritual growth and aligning our lives with God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the context of David's life help us interpret his plea in Psalm 39:13?

2. In what ways can we see God's discipline as an act of love, and how should this change our response to difficult times?

3. How does the theme of mortality in Psalm 39:13 encourage us to live with an eternal perspective?

4. What practical steps can we take to find joy and comfort in God, even when we feel overwhelmed by life's challenges?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Psalm 39:13 to prepare ourselves spiritually for the brevity of life and the certainty of eternity?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Job 7:19
Similar to David, Job also pleads for God to look away so he can have a moment of relief, highlighting the theme of human suffering and divine scrutiny.

Psalm 90:12
This verse emphasizes the brevity of life, urging believers to gain a heart of wisdom, which connects to David's awareness of his mortality.

Hebrews 12:5-11
Discusses God's discipline as an act of love, providing a New Testament perspective on the purpose of divine correction.

James 4:14
Reminds believers of the fleeting nature of life, echoing the sentiments found in Psalm 39.
A Prayer in the Prospect of DeathT. Kidd.Psalm 39:13
David's View of the GraveW. B. Williams, A. M.Psalm 39:13
DeathD. Wilcox.Psalm 39:13
Death DeprecatedW. Forsyth, M. A.Psalm 39:13
Death DeprecatedW. Forsyth Psalm 39:13
Prayer for Prolongation of LifeB. Beddome, M. A.Psalm 39:13
Prayer for RecoveryCanon Duckworth.Psalm 39:13
Evil Speaking, and the Proper Means to Prevent ItR. Fiddes.Psalm 39:1-13
Lessons from a FuneralW. Forsyth Psalm 39:1-13
The Afflicted ManC. Short Psalm 39:1-13
The Unspoken Judgment of MankindJ. B. Mozley, D. D.Psalm 39:1-13
Thought and Prayer Under TrialHomilistPsalm 39:1-13
Unburdening the Heart to God in a Time of Sore AfflictionC. Clemance Psalm 39:1-13
People
David, Jeduthun, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
40, Chief, Comfort, Comforted, David, Depart, Exist, Gaze, Gladness, Hence, Musician, Nothing, O, Oh, Psalm, Recover, Smile, Spare, Strength, Turn, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 39:12

     5147   deafness
     5198   weeping
     5950   silence
     6109   alienation

Library
The Bitterness and Blessedness of the Brevity of Life
'Surely every man walketh in a vain shew.... 12. I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.' --PSALM xxxix. 6, 12. These two sayings are two different ways of putting the same thing. There is a common thought underlying both, but the associations with which that common thought is connected in these two verses are distinctly different. The one is bitter and sad--a gloomy half truth. The other, out of the very same fact, draws blessedness and hope. The one may come from no
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Song of the Sojourner.
"I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were."--Psalm 39:12. "Ich bin ein Gast auf Erden." [60]Paul Gerhardt. transl., Jane Borthwick, 1858 A Pilgrim and a stranger, I journey here below; Far distant is my country The home to which I go. Here I must toil and travel, Oft weary and opprest, But there my God shall lead me To everlasting rest. I've met with storm and danger, Even from my early years, With enemies and conflicts, With fightings and with fears. There's nothing here
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

Epiphanius of Pavia.
ABOUT the same time that Cæsarius was thus labouring in France, Epiphanius, Bishop of Pavia, was labouring in a like spirit in Italy. He also was a blessing for his land, convulsed by the disturbances of war, and deluged by one barbarous tribe after another. Amidst the strife of hostile tribes, he gained equal confidence and equal respect from the leaders of the adverse parties, and shed benefits alike on friend and foe. When the wild hosts of Odoacer were destroying and plundering Pavia, in
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Since These Things are So, Suffer Me Awhile...
36. Since these things are so, suffer me awhile, holy brother, (for the Lord giveth me through thee great boldness,) to address these same our sons and brethren whom I know with what love thou together with us dost travail in birth withal, until the Apostolic discipline be formed in them. O servants of God, soldiers of Christ, is it thus ye dissemble the plottings of our most crafty foe, who fearing your good fame, that so goodly odor of Christ, lest good souls should say, "We will run after the
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

How Admirably Ps. ...
How admirably Ps. xxxix. [xxxviii.] takes the place of an introduction. Incited thereto by this psalm the saint determines to write on duties. He does this with more reason even than Cicero, who wrote on this subject to his son. How, further, this is so. 23. Not without thought did I make use of the beginning of this psalm, in writing to you, my children. For this psalm which the Prophet David gave to Jeduthun to sing, [57] I urge you to regard, being delighted myself with its depth of meaning and
St. Ambrose—Works and Letters of St. Ambrose

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500
In the second period of the history of the Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still be regarded as forming a whole. The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both divisions of the Empire and not merely in the one in which they were principally fought out; and in the condemnation
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History

Letter xxvi. (Circa A. D. 1127) to the Same
To the Same He excuses the brevity of his letter on the ground that Lent is a time of silence; and also that on account of his profession and his ignorance he does not dare to assume the function of teaching. 1. You will, perhaps, be angry, or, to speak more gently, will wonder that in place of a longer letter which you had hoped for from me you receive this brief note. But remember what says the wise man, that there is a time for all things under the heaven; both a time to speak and a time to keep
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Works by the Same Author.
Crown 8vo, cloth, price 7s. 6d. each. THE PSALMS. VOL. I.--PSALMS I.-XXXVIII. " II.--PSALMS XXXIX.-LXXXIX. " III.--PSALMS XC-CL. IN THE "EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE." "The work of a brilliant and effective teacher. He writes with real power and insight."--Saturday Review. "Dr. Maclaren has evidently mastered his subject with the aid of the best authorities, and has put the results of his studies before his readers in a most attractive form, and if we add that this commentary really helps to the better
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

How the Silent and the Talkative are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 15.) Differently to be admonished are the over-silent, and those who spend time in much speaking. For it ought to be insinuated to the over-silent that while they shun some vices unadvisedly, they are, without its being perceived, implicated in worse. For often from bridling the tongue overmuch they suffer from more grievous loquacity in the heart; so that thoughts seethe the more in the mind from being straitened by the violent guard of indiscreet silence. And for the most part they
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. With how great devotion my mind prostrates itself before your Venerableness I cannot fully express in words; nor yet do I labour to give utterance to it, since, even though I were silent, you read in your heart your own sense of my devotion. I wonder, however, that you withdrew your countenance, till of late bestowed on me, from this my recent engagement in the pastoral office; wherein, under colour of episcopacy, I have been brought
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Third Sunday after Easter
Text: First Peter 2, 11-20. 11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Character of Its Teachings Evidences the Divine Authorship of the Bible
Take its teachings about God Himself. What does the Bible teach us about God? It declares that He is Eternal: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou are God" (Ps. 90:2). It reveals the fact that He is Infinite: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee" (I Kings 8:27). Vast as we know the universe to be, it has its bounds; but we must go beyond
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness, Suffering
Text: 1 Peter 5, 5-11. 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom withstand stedfast
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

"And we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6.--"And we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Here they join the punishment with the deserving cause, their uncleanness and their iniquities, and so take it upon them, and subscribe to the righteousness of God's dealing. We would say this much in general--First, Nobody needeth to quarrel God for his dealing. He will always be justified when he is judged. If the Lord deal more sharply with you than with others, you may judge there is a difference
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus Christ;
SHEWING, TRUE GOSPEL-HOLINESS FLOWS FROM THENCE; OR, MR. FOWLER'S PRETENDED DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY, PROVED TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD; AND THE IDOLIZING OF MAN'S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS ALSO, HOW WHILE HE PRETENDS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, HE OVERTHROWETH THE WHOLESOME DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 13TH, OF THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES OF THE SAME, AND THAT HE FALLETH IN WITH THE QUAKER AND ROMANIST, AGAINST THEM. BY JOHN BUNYAN
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 39:13 NIV
Psalm 39:13 NLT
Psalm 39:13 ESV
Psalm 39:13 NASB
Psalm 39:13 KJV

Psalm 39:13 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 39:12
Top of Page
Top of Page