The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 39:5,
"You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure."
David considers the temporal nature of this life and how that impacts his outlook on the Lord's dealing with him while he is still here. On the one hand he asks the Lord to save him from his transgressions, verse 8. On the other he asks the Lord to remove the difficulties the Lord has brought into his life, "Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath." Verses 10-11.
David also considers how pointless the pursuit of wealth is in this life, given its short-term nature, "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be." Verse 6.
This psalm of David reminds me of one that Moses wrote where he said, "You turn people back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, you mortals.' A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered." Psalm 90:3-6.
"You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure."
David considers the temporal nature of this life and how that impacts his outlook on the Lord's dealing with him while he is still here. On the one hand he asks the Lord to save him from his transgressions, verse 8. On the other he asks the Lord to remove the difficulties the Lord has brought into his life, "Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath." Verses 10-11.
David also considers how pointless the pursuit of wealth is in this life, given its short-term nature, "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be." Verse 6.
This psalm of David reminds me of one that Moses wrote where he said, "You turn people back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, you mortals.' A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered." Psalm 90:3-6.
When I was a boy, summer vacation between the school years seemed like forever - filled with fun. Now that I am older, the years feel like they just fly by and it provides that perspective that David and Moses speak of. Life in this age is short, life in this age is temporary. We soon leave this life and enter into an age that will be without end: eternal life for some, and eternal death for others.
I feel the consideration of it is beneficial, productive and important. It snaps our attention away from all those things that tend to take us hostage and helps us focus on the vital and important things of our lives. When we look back at the end of our life, will we feel it was well-lived? Did we accomplish, maybe not those most fun things, but the important things? Did we invest this life in the one to come for us? Based on how we lived our lives are we bound for an eternity of expectant joy and fulfillment or one that carries the stench of death?
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
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