I say it, especially as a parent. “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” Curious. I thought for sure that I was quoting the Bible. I’m sure it’s in there. Probably in the book of Hezekiah, right around the verse about “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
But I can’t find it now. And maybe never will. Where does that leave me? After all, “if I can’t say something nice, then I should be quiet.” Right? Keeps me out of trouble.
Evidentially, that’s what the Psalmist decided to do. Guard his ways, so he won’t mess up, especially with the wicked circling around… I told myself, “I’ll be careful not to sin by what I say, and I’ll muzzle my mouth when evil people are near.” I kept completely silent, but it did no good, and I hurt even worse. Psalm 39:1-2 CEV
It did no good and the NASB takes it a step further and says I refrained even from good. The whole point of staying quiet when nothing nice can be said is to avoid conflict, right? In today’s world, it’s important to be nice, not to hurt someone’s feelings, right?
But did the Psalmist avoid conflict? Maybe outwardly… My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue; Psalm 39:3 ESV
Ah, finally, a word. He will speak. He cannot stay quiet any longer.
“Please, LORD, show me my future. Will I soon be gone? You made my life short, so brief that the time means nothing to you. Human life is but a breath, and it disappears like a shadow. Our struggles are senseless; we store up more and more, without ever knowing who will get it all. What am I waiting for? I depend on you, LORD! Save me from my sins. Don’t let fools sneer at me. YOU treated me like this, and I kept silent, not saying a word.” Psalm 39:4-9 CEV
Hmm, okay, I’ll admit it, I’m confused. The first few verses talk of staying silent especially with the enemy around. “I’m being spiritual and guarding my ways. I’ll be quiet even though I see evil all around me. I don’t want to sin!” But it comes to a point where the burning inside is so hot, he can’t stay quiet. He speaks out. Against his enemy? Against the injustices in the world? Against GOD? WHAT? He cries to GOD. All right. He is writing a Psalm in the Bible, I’ll grant that he’s more spiritual than I am. Crying to GOD might not have been my first choice.
The Psalmist cries to GOD for help. And then what? He blames GOD for his current situation. Really? Because it is THOU who hast done it says the NASB (verse 9b).
What kind of relationship does this person have with the Creator of the Universe that he cries out to GOD for help and then blames HIM for the situation? Who has that kind of relationship with GOD? The text tells me. At first, he tried to stay quiet. Then the calls out to the ONE who he knows can handle it. But even more so Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High GOD. Lamentations 3:38 NCV.
WHAT? Good and bad from GOD? But James clearly says When people are tempted, they should not says, “GOD is tempting me.” Evil cannot tempt GOD, and GOD HIMSELF does not tempt anyone (1:13 NCV).
But yet the Psalmist continues on “Won’t YOU stop punishing me? YOU have worn me down. YOU punish us severely because of our sins. Like a moth, YOU destroy what we treasure most. We are as frail as a breath.” Psalm 39:10-11 CEV
Blaming GOD for his situation? Crying out that GOD is destroying what he treasures most? WAIT! Maybe it’s a clue. We are to love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB. If we love GOD, then what we treasure most (GOD) cannot be destroyed.
JESUS said it best: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21 NASB).
If we place value on items that can be destroyed or stolen, then we will be miserable. As the teacher in Ecclesiastes says “Useless! Useless! Completely useless! Everything is completely useless!” (1:2 NCV). A bit extreme but true. Like the famous book, “Gone with the Wind.”
The LORD causes it to rain on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45c). As a follower, as a child of GOD, we will not escape pain. And we will not escape correction from GOD because HE loves us (Proverbs 3:12). Can we cry out to HIM? Yes. The Psalmist did. The Psalmist was honest with his pain. He blamed GOD. But do we leave it there, blaming GOD? No. For the Psalmist finishes the chapter—
“Listen, LORD, to my prayer! My eyes are flooded with tears, as I pray to you. I am merely a stranger visiting your home as my ancestors did. Stop being angry with me and let me smile again before I am dead and gone.” Psalm 39:12-13 CEV
I want a relationship like that with the LORD. One where I can be honest. One where I can cry out to HIM, blame HIM but then beg for answers to my prayers in the same breath. A relationship of ups and downs but one where I know HE is with me no matter what. Abraham is called a friend of GOD (James 2:23b). Am I HIS friend?
Who’s your friend? And how honest is the relationship?
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