December 4, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

What is Life About?

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Opening Prayer

Loving Father, on this Your day, I desire to worship You in spirit and in truth, to present to You a living sacrifice of praise.

Read Psalm 39:1-13

[1] For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” [2] So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; [3] my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: [4] “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. [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. [6] “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. [7] “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. [8] Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. [9] I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. [10] Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. [11] When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth- surely everyone is but a breath. [12] “Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. [13] Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…” (Albert E. Brumley, 1905–1977; sung by Jim Reeves). Is this a sentiment you can identify with?

Life is short and often frustrating. We often have questions about what is happening, both in our own lives and in the world at large. What is it all about? The psalmist here is lamenting a number of things, not the least life’s brevity and the apparent futility of much suffering that it contains. What hope may be offered in the face of such feelings?
As he tries to face his questions honestly, David feels that, although he wants to express his despair, too often he feels that he should discipline his tongue and be silent (1,2). It’s as if he faces a constant battle to keep his life in check. He doesn’t want to speak ill of God, but he just succeeds in building up frustration as he tries to repress his feelings (3). If life is a mere breath (5), what is the point? David sees that he has no control over what happens, yet he is desperate to know if there is any purpose, as well as to seek from God the reason he feels such despair.
His faith starts to come into focus in verses 7–13. He has felt distant from God and is beginning to appreciate that if one leaves God out of his questions, then that will truly lead to despair. So he cries to him, acknowledging his sin, which is the cause of his sense that he is distant from God. Yes, God at times rebukes, disciplines and consumes pointless wealth (11), but God is also the one to whom he cries for deliverance (12). There is no hope in self or others, but only in God and what he offers. Faith brings hope (7,8) and relief as he prays (12)—and he certainly wants to smile again (13)!

Life is short and often frustrating. We often have questions about what is happening, both in our own lives and in the world at large. What is it all about? The psalmist here is lamenting a number of things, not the least life’s brevity and the apparent futility of much suffering that it contains. What hope may be offered in the face of such feelings?

As he tries to face his questions honestly, David feels that, although he wants to express his despair, too often he feels that he should discipline his tongue and be silent (1,2). It’s as if he faces a constant battle to keep his life in check. He doesn’t want to speak ill of God, but he just succeeds in building up frustration as he tries to repress his feelings (3). If life is a mere breath (5), what is the point? David sees that he has no control over what happens, yet he is desperate to know if there is any purpose, as well as to seek from God the reason he feels such despair.

His faith starts to come into focus in verses 7–13. He has felt distant from God and is beginning to appreciate that if one leaves God out of his questions, then that will truly lead to despair. So he cries to him, acknowledging his sin, which is the cause of his sense that he is distant from God. Yes, God at times rebukes, disciplines and consumes pointless wealth (11), but God is also the one to whom he cries for deliverance (12). There is no hope in self or others, but only in God and what he offers. Faith brings hope (7,8) and relief as he prays (12)—and he certainly wants to smile again (13)!

Apply

Does your life somehow seem short and empty? How does that awareness affect your priorities?

Closing prayer

Lord, when I feel this sense of vulnerability and fear, give me a sense of acceptance in Your presence and restore hope and joy.

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