This is a Representative Sample of what you will receive when you order Preaching through the Psalms. This is only 1 of 152 chapters.

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1 This is a Representative Sample of what you will receive when you order Preaching through the Psalms. This is only 1 of 152 chapters. Verses 1-2. I was dumb, etc. PSALM 39 SERMON OUTLINES AND HELPFUL TIPS 1. There is a time to be silent. He had been enabled to do this when reproached and unjustly accused by others. He did it for good; others might attribute it to sullenness, or pride, or timidity, or conscious guilt; but he did it for good. Breathe upon a polished mirror and it will evaporate and leave it brighter than before; endeavor to wipe it off, and the mark will remain. 2. There is a time to meditate in silence. The greater the silence without, often the greater commotion within. "His heart was hot." The more he thought, the warmer he grew. The fire of pity and compassion, the fire of love, the fire of holy zeal burned within him. 3. There is a time to speak. "Then spake I." The time to speak is when the truth is clear and strong in the mind, and the feeling of the truth is burning in the heart. The emotions burst forth as from a volcano. Jer 20:8-9. The language should always be a faithful representation of the mind and the heart. G. Rogers, Tutor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle College. Verse 2. There is a sevenfold silence. 1. A stoical silence. 2. A politic silence. 3. A foolish silence. 4. A sullen silence. 5. A forced silence. 6. A despairing silence. 7. A prudent, a holy, a gracious silence. Thomas Brooks' "Mute Christian." Verse 4. Make me to know mine end. 1. What we may desire to know about our end. Not its date, place, circumstances, but

2 (a). Its nature. Will it be the end of saint or sinner? (b). Its certainty. (c). Its nearness. (d). Its issues. (e). Its requirements. In the shape of attention, preparation, passport. 2. Why ask God to make us know it? Because the knowledge is important, difficult to acquire, and can be effectually imparted by the Lord only. W. Jackson. Verse 4. David prays, 1. That he may be enabled continually to keep in view the end of life: all things should be judged by their end. "Then understood I their end." Life may be Honorable, and cheerful, and virtuous here; but the end! What will it be? 2. That he may be diligent in the performance of all the duties of this life. The measure of his days, how short, how much to be done, how little time to do it in! 3. He prays that he may gain much instruction and benefit from the frailties of life. That I may know, etc. My frailties may make me more humble, more diligent, while I am able for active service; more dependent upon divine strength, more patient and submissive to the divine will, more ripe for heaven. G. Rogers. Verse 5. (last clause). Man is vanity, i.e., he is mortal, he is mutable. Observe how emphatically this truth is expressed here. 1. Every man is vanity, without exception, high and low, rich and poor. 2. He is so at his best estate; when he is young, and strong, and healthful, in wealth and honor, etc. 3. He is altogether vanity, as vain as you can imagine. 4. Verily he is so. 5. Selah is annexed, as a note commanding observation. Matthew Henry. Verse 6. The vanity of man, as mortal, is here instanced in three things, and the vanity of each shown.

3 1. The vanity of our joys and honors: Surely every man walketh in a vain show. 2. The vanity of our griefs and fears: Surely they are disquieted in vain. 3. The vanity of our cares and toils: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. Matthew Henry. Verse 6. The world's trinity consists, 1. In fruitless honors: what appears to them to be substantial honors are but a vain show. 2. In needless cares. They are disquieted in vain. Imaginary cares are substituted for real ones. 3. In useless riches; such as yield no lasting satisfaction to themselves, or in their descent to others. G. Rogers. Verse 7. What wait I for? 1. For what salvation as a sinner? Of works or grace from Sinai or Calvary? 2. For what consolation as a sufferer? Earthly or heavenly? 3. For what supply as a suppliant? Meager or bountiful? Present or future? 4. For what communication as a servant? Miraculous or ordinary? Pleasing or unacceptable? 5. For what instruction as a pupil? Mental or spiritual? Elating or humbling? Ornamental or useful? 6. For what inheritance as an heir? Sublunary or celestial? W. Jackson. Verse An urgent occasion. And now Lord, etc. There are seasons that should lead us specially to look up to God, and say, Now, Lord. "Father, the hour is come." 2. A devout exclamation, Now, Lord, what wait I for? Where is my expectation? where my confidence? To whom shall I look? I am nothing, the world is nothing, all earthly sources of confidence and consolation fail: What wait I for? In life, in death, in a dying world, in a coming judgment, in an eternity at hand; what is it that I need? G. Rogers. Verse Prayer should be general: Deliver me from all my transgressions. We often need anew to say, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Afflictions should remind us of our sins. If we pray to be delivered from all transgressions, we are sure to be delivered from the one for which affliction was sent. 2. Prayer should be particular: Make me not the reproach of the foolish. Suffer me not so to speak or show impatience in affliction as to give occasion even to the foolish to blaspheme. The thought that many watch for our halting should be a preservative from sin. G. Rogers.

4 Verse The occasion referred to. I was dumb, etc. We are not told what the particular trial was, that each one may apply it to his own affliction, and because all are to be viewed in the same light. 2. The conduct of the psalmist upon that particular occasion: I opened not my mouth. (a) Not in anger and rebellion against God in murmurs or complaints. (b) Not in impatience, or complaining, or angry feelings against men. (c) The reason he assigns for this conduct: Because thou didst it. G. Rogers. Verse Afflictions are sent by God. Thy strokes. They are strokes of his hand, not of the rod of the law, but of the shepherd's rod. Every affliction is his stroke. 2. Afflictions are removed by God. Remove. He asks not for miracles, but that God in his own way, in the use of natural means, would interpose for his deliverance. We should seek his blessing upon the means employed for our deliverance both by ourselves and others. "Cause to remove, "etc. 3. Afflictions have their end from God. I am consumed by the conflict, etc. God hath a controversy with his people. It is a conflict between his will and their wills. The psalmist owns himself conquered and subdued in the struggle. We should be more anxious that this end should be accomplished than that the affliction should be removed, and when this is accomplished the affliction will be removed. G. Rogers. Verse The cause of our trials: "for iniquity." Oh, this trial is come to take away my comforts, my peace of mind, and the divine smile! No, this is all the fruit to take away their sin the dross, none of the gold sin, nothing but sin. 2. The effect of our trials. All that he counted desirable in this life, but not for his real good, is consumed. His robes which are beautiful in men's esteem are moth eaten, but the robe of righteousness upon his soul cannot decay. 3. The design of our trials. They are not penal inflictions, but friendly rebukes and fatherly corrections. On Christ our Surety the penal consequences were laid, upon us their paternal chastisements only.

5 4. The reasonableness of our trials. "Surely every man is vanity." How in a world like this could any expect to be exempt from trials! The world is the same to the Christian as before, and his body is the same. He has a converted soul in an unconverted body, and how can he escape the external ills of life? G. Rogers. Verse 12. David pleads the good impressions made upon him by his affliction. 1. It had set him a weeping. 2. It had set him a praying. 3. It had helped to wean him from the world. Matthew Henry. Verse 12. (last clause). Am I a stranger and a sojourner with God? Let me realise, let me exemplify the condition. 1. Let me look for the treatment such characters commonly meet with. 2. And surely if any of my own nation be near me, I shall be intimate with them. 3. Let me not be entangled in the affairs of this life. 4. Let my affection be set on things that are above, and my conversation be always in heaven. 5. Let me be not impatient for home; but prizing it. W. Jay. Verse The subject of his petition not that he may escape death and live always in this life, because he knows that he must go hence; but 1. That he may be recovered from his afflictions; and, 2. That he may continue longer in this life. Such a prayer is lawful when offered in submission to the will of God. 2. The reasons for this petition. 1. That he may remove by his future life, the calumnies that had been heaped upon him. 2. That he may have brighter evidences of his interest in the divine Favor. 3. That he may become a blessing to others, his family and nation. 4. That he might have greater peace and comfort in death; and, 5. That he might "have an entrance ministered more abundantly, "etc. G. Rogers.