Poetic Aspects
I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, and my sorrow grew worse; Psalm 39:2 NASB
Refrained– David feels as if his voice is tied down. He wants to say something in the face of this evil, but he doesn’t know how. As a result, something even more debilitating happens. He discovers that when he doesn’t speak up against evil, he is unable to do what is good. The Hebrew is he-ḥešeti. The verb, ḥāšâ, is in the Hifil tense. This is an causative verbal form, that is, to bring something about. David’s use of ḥāšâ as a Hif’il means that this action causes something more to happen.
But here the translation might steer us in the wrong direction. You see, the verb ḥāšâ actually means, “to hold one’s peace,” or “to keep quiet.”
The ASV tends to translate “hold one’s peace” where the RSV renders “keep quiet.” The basic meaning of the root is “to keep quiet,” i.e. to be inactive, especially with reference to speaking; it is used also of wares (Ps 107:29). This is a poetical root which strongly parallels ḥāraš and dāmam (cf. Isa 42:14). The Psalmist gives insight into the nature of sin by reporting that his silence in the face of aggravation left him with sin within (Ps 39:2 [H 3]; cf. v. 8 [H 9], also Mk 7:20).[1]
Again, notice the comment at the end of this explanation. Does David say that his self-inflicted silence leaves him with “sin within”? Or does he say that he experiences a growing sense of consternation, frustration and helplessness? How you answer these questions will depend on who you believe to be the intended audience of these lyrics. In my opinion, David is deliberately revealing his internal battle in order to set up a radical and controversial shift (as we shall see). What we do know at this point is this: David doubles down on his feelings of restraint. ḥāšâ is a verb about keeping quiet, just as ʾālam is a verb about noiselessness in the same sentence. But now there is an additional consequence. The feelings of being tied up, of not knowing how to say what should be said, are now the source of further dismay. Now David discovers that this internal battle has also affected his ability to do what is good. The strain about how to say something in the face of evil infects his ability to speak what is true and good in other circumstances. In other words, burying the hatchet doesn’t prevent it from causing other wounds.
Maybe you’ve found this to be true. You know you should say something about some lawless condition. But you refrain, perhaps because you simply don’t know how to go about it. Then you find that stuffing those feelings inside has unexpected consequences for other actions. The distress infects your ability to do what’s right in other places. The disease spreads. You cry out, “What should I do now, Lord?” An answer is coming. Wait.
Topical Index: ḥāšâ, refrained, keep quiet, Psalm 39:2
[1]Coppes, L. J. (1999). 768 חָשָׁה. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament(R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (330). Chicago: Moody Press.
When thinking of David in this way, I consider the position of a warrior leader. One whose resume’ has this … “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the lamb from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I seized it by its whiskers and struck and killed it. 1 Samuel 17:34-35.
This giant killer and protector has to learn how to walk in the call of warrior and king. Yikes! I am also reminded of Apostle Paul during his time of perhaps over zealousness. What’s my point, when you have all of that fearlessness wrapped up in one person it’s not a bad idea to check in and err on the side of what “looks” passive. Can’t go around grabbing folks by the whiskers can we!
As I was reading this, it brought up the part of the story, where David was offered the king’s armor, but it was awkward and too big, he knew the strength of the Lord would show him the victory, with one stone, some say for others because they were brothers, and he was ready. B. B.
`I am a firm believer that what we do (or not) around others is a reflection of what we are doing (or not) with ourselves. I cannot connect with you if I am not connecting with myself in those places. If I am not able to confront and correct my own sin, I have no tools or AUTHORITY to do the same with you. If we find ourselves unable to react correctly to disfunction around us: if we lack the ability to bridge the gap in front of us, surely it is because we are still standing on the wrong side of our own creek in that place.
If David found himself lacking authority to deal with evil without, surely it was because he was – at that point, anyway – still not dealing with the evil within.
This is a difficult one for me to understand or digest. Truth is the truth whether we are living it out or not, right? If I wait until I resolved my issues, in order to speak into somebody else’s life and try and say it perfectly, I may be waiting forever. If I am not living what I declare(preach!) to others, what difference does that make? Don’t get all alarmed by that, just thinking out loud. I volunteer and do mentoring with guys struggling with addictions. What if I myself, in the middle of mentoring, have my own issues? Isn’t this what has caused so much trouble in the church, people pretending they have it all figured out, and talk like it, but they have some major issues that eventually errupt and maybe even destroy their ministry. Like I said, just thinking out loud. Sometimes when I am “ ministering”
and make statements like “and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” and yet I am still struggling to be free I am left with a sense of being a hypocrite, feeling like maybe I need to go into treatment! Ouch, that truth hurts!
Will my voice from the wrong side of the creek, make a difference?
If you are honest, it will. Some of the best help I ever got was from those stuck on that wrong side, but honest about it. We are not called to fix each other, after all: all we are called to do is witness, which is the honest humble sharing of where we happen to be at the moment. David seems to have gotten that one: his witness is all over the place, but, who cares? All we need from David, ourselves or others is that honest vulnerability. The Spirit can take it from there. Halleluah!
You are not alone, Larry. We all seem to be given the instructions to help others SO THAT we can improve ourselves. After all, I might be deceiving myself that I have freedom in an area, but when I turn around to help another in that place; guess what? It doesn’t work! Why??? Hoo, boy. Guess and check. In the messy process, we learn to give others the same space we need. Amazing, but there is no learning this one without living it. Reach out – both parties are apt to be surprised!
Here’s what I thought after reading your post. Our insurance policy covers unintentional sin. Sometimes safe drivers have accidents but we are not penalized like wreckless drivers who cause accidents, collisions with an intent to destroy … Intent and inclination makes the difference. It is those who “know” the good to do but don’t do it who sin/miss the mark. Also I see Consequences as age (awareness) appropriate. At least that’s how I parent.
We have hit such a thread of encouragement. Pulling together the strength that we need. If we don’t use the authority, we will lose the authority. Like a muscle weakens when it is not used. Like lungs diminish when we do not breathe properly. And so on. I have been reading articles for the last 10 years or so about the warrior bride.
And how the bride has cleansed herself, and made herself ready. Wow, hold on. The next Victory is coming ….
I thought I should speak out about this:
I haven’t received your posts for several days.
Yes, we know there is an issue. It is with the company that provides the service. We are trying to get it fixed. In the meanwhile, please go to the web site and read there.
Rich be encouraged, that when men see your good works oh, it will glorify your father in Heaven. Then you will Proclaim what he has done.
That time maybe now. Seeming that you are humble, and honest and pure in heart. Is that what God would say about you.?
Recently, I became overcome with sadness. I thought it was hurt or anger, but heard clearly that this was sadness and it was connected to offenses. Now, I don’t hold grudges or keep track of such things, but since reading your articles on this Psalm (so far), it has become clear that I had a very mistaken idea that not addressing offense was the spiritually mature, godly thing to do. Don’t rock the boat, move on and and forgive the offender, God will take car of it. But something isn’t right. Relationship has changed. It is different, distant, dare I say fake? But I didn’t return in kind, I did not offend back. Shouldn’t this cause something good and not something bad? By not addressing it, keeping silent, the shadow of offense as the death of relationship, became a source of deep sorrow. What I am understanding is that confronting is not returning in kind. It is about loving yourself and others enough to do the hard thing. Confronting an offense is opening communication. What or how you did something bothered me on some level and I need to know why that is and why you did what you did. This is one of the keys to transparency and vulnerability without which relationship/community withers and dies. Thank you, Skip, for your diligence and heart for Truth. You are a blessing. 🙂
When Peter asked about how many to times to forgive a brother for an offense Jesus responded 70×7 then he (Jesus) shared a parable about how a little faith (trust in God) can move mountains. Luke 17:3-6 reads Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith [our ability to confidently trust in God and in His power].” And the Lord said, “If you have [confident, abiding] faith in God [even as small] as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree [which has very strong roots], ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and [if the request was in agreement with the will of God] it would have obeyed you.
Offense (rooted in hurt and unforgiveness) sometimes feels like a big mountain to be moved. When I accepted that confrontation was for clarity and connection… about winning my brother over and not my point or opinion I could go in the spirit of the Lord. Matthew 18:15 reads “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.”
I always question whether my offense has anything to do with Kingdom things … remembering that Jesus rebuked Peter for having the things of man in mind rather than God. Another helpful word for this former grudge holder is Proverbs 10:12 … “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].” My inner change was lasting when i read that love is not easily agitated and accepted that I was carrying with me an offensive spirit. “Don’t drink the poison” is one of my workshops that I conduct for people just like me. Today I want to settle accounts…
Matthew 18:23 reads “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.” As Moses said to Pharaoh “let my people go … so they may worship the Creator.” At this I asked myself whose spirit am I tying up? Whose flow am I blocking by keeping sincere love outside? Today I trust God that the truth spoken in love has the power to set a person free if they continue in it. As they say, be like the postman simply deliver the mail …
You said, “my inner change was lasting when I read that love was not easily agitated and accepted that I was carrying with me an offensive spirit(easily offended)”.
I have been sitting with this statement this morning. What is my issue or problem? It must have something to do with my inability to love and forgive myself? God has allowed me to be in this desert/wilderness to deal with my own inner demons? Face up time. But with great kindness as well as confrontational. When I think of this I think about Jesus being in the wilderness with the devil. Satan kept trying to find a place in Jesus to build on. Some “platform” to operate from! He found none. But his intentions are the same for us. He has found places or platforms to operate from within our lives. Old places of ruin. I guess you would call them strongholds and the Holy Spirit is in the process of removing those strongholds. For it is God who is at work with in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure. “Let my people go“. As God was telling me yesterday, “Larry, I am for you“. Rest in this. I am the author and finisher of your faith. The Alpha and Omega. Beginning and end .
I have to say that the Holy Spirit just through this time of thinking and writing has revealed something important and prominent it to me. Sort of revealing what is happening and what process is going on. As long as the enemy has a place in us, there will be a continual struggle and battle due to that stronghold. Think of it. All the different ways of inroads into our hearts. Resentments, anger, unresolved issues, hidden hurts etc. all these can be places that cost us much distress. I don’t know if that makes any sense to anyone else but it’s sort of gives me that one loose thread that I can pull on to help untangle the big ball ! Now the key is for me not to try and do the changing for myself but to allow the Holy Spirit his platform to work from ! We are masters of our own DIY programs and they get us nowhere !
Thank you Skip!
My brother, I would react from my wounded places whenever some one inadvertently touched them. This lead to self preservation=Isolation. But Yeshua comes to heal the broken hearted, restore sight to the blind and make straight the path to Yehovah. His healing came in part through self awareness. Some wicked ones enjoyed the power they could exert and would prod our press me to get reactions. It was actually fun for them… I belive we all instinctively perceive these things. I have for number’s of years been discerning my heart and it’s motivations. When I am distressed or out of the spirit of grace in truth I recalibrate my north arrow toward true north with King David’s prayer “Create in me a clean heart oh Lord and renew a right Spirit within me” Be warned my brother Yehovah will answer this prayer in his own and most effective way…
My studies in reconciliation and relational restoration revealed the importance of clear honest communication and disclosure. The Biblical model is of confession, that leads to repentance and then restoration and reconciliation. The reason that the adversary atempts to get us to shut up or shut down is because the path through offense is most often by acknowledging the offense, confronting (graciously and lovingly ) the offender . If we don’t take that path we and the offensive party remain in bondage, darkness, and ignorance. If we can first forgive, find love and mercy then confront the other with our offense they can then recognize and accept their contribution, repenting and acknowledging then together we find restoration. We may become wiser ourselves and less suceptibule to foolishness. However most offenses seem to need a party willing to walk others through the process of reconciliation. “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the sons of God”
Poetic Aspects, December 14, 2018.
What you said reminded me of this proverb: Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
I think when there is good reason to rebuke or to be rebuked, it’s so important. It just makes things more complicated later on if things aren’t discussed and worked out. The relationship will be hurt or just ruined beyond repair.
Some people can’t handle being confronted and are impossible to reason with regardless of what they have done wrong. They can’t admit their faults and will never be sorry. The lady who wrote ‘The Sociopath Next Door’ said that is what she has observed. There will be a pity play as well. The sooner you find out what the situation is the better so you can protect yourself. Self-preservation.
Barbara Buzzard has an article that I think is good titled ‘A Plea to Return to Biblical Repentance’.
Shabatt Shalom brethren. I am most grateful considering participating in this forumn such a privilege. Having followed this truly profound series of conversations I have been made more whole in deep ways. Thanks to each and everyone for share from your depths. “Deep calls unto deep.” I am also truley suprized at the effectiveness in this medium to actually get there. ..So many chuches, communities and fellowship skip along the surface of the warm murky waters stirred by action or emotion never dive into the deapths finding the cool crisp refreshingly clear places.
Yes, yes and yes! Your input and understanding is greatly appreciated. I have been keenly aware of God‘s presence today !
*retracted