As David expressed his frustration with dealing with the pressure that he was feeling deep inside of him, he cried out to God with these words, "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 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. Surely, everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain, they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. (Psalm 39:4-6)." David acknowledged that despite his struggle between sin and righteousness within him and facing God's discipline in his life, God knows the span of his life on this earth. David knew that his suffering could only last as long as he lived, so he wanted to know the span of his life by asking God. Our life is short compared to the eternality of our God. All of our plans, projects, hopes, and dreams on this earth will come to nothing once we die. The accumulation of wealth will stop, and we will never know what will happen to all our stuff when we are gone.
David's hope is God, and this is the reason that He never gives up on life. No matter how tough it gets, He knows that God is with Him, even though he is under discipline because of his rebellion. When we understand the shortness of our life on this earth, we can be wiser in how we live our lives. Since we do not know how long we will live on this earth, we are hoping and expecting that we will live for a long time, but this hope and expectation is not guaranteed. As a result, we need to put our hope to God and surrender our life to Him. As we continue to study Psalm 39, we will see how David wanted to make his life right with God. Our hope is beyond this earth. As a result, we need to make each day count for God's glory because as the days go by, we are becoming closer to being with the Lord.
Let us stop putting our hope on the things of this earth and put our hope in God alone. There is nothing wrong with planning for our future on this earth as long as we do not put our ultimate hope in them. Our possessions and achievements do not determine who we are as a person. Who we are is in Christ Jesus alone; therefore, we have eternal hope.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). Who determines the number of days on this earth? How should I live my life knowing that my life is but a breath? What lesson can I learn from this devotion?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I praise you for holding my existence in the palm of your hands. You already know how long I will live on this earth, so I pray that you will help me to live it well for your glory. Please help me to put my hope in you and not in the things of this world. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.