Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

39:7-13 Request for Forgiveness and Relief. Being sure that the circumstances come from God, the singer declares his hope in God, asks God to deliver him from all his transgressions, and furthermore to take away the discipline. The act of making such a request is a frank admission that he has sinned and deserves God's rebukes for sin; it also takes to heart the lesson prayed for in vv. 4-6 (cf. v. 11b with v. 5b). Sojourner stresses his temporary residence in this life (cf. 1 Chron. 29:15). Look away (Ps. 39:13; cf. Job 7:19; 14:6) here does not mean that he wants God to cease caring for him; rather, he asks God to turn away his angry gaze (cf. Ps. 39:10).