What is the Measure of my Days?

My Dad is in Kentucky this week visiting and we are having the greatest time. The first morning he was here he brought his Bible out and shared this Psalm that he had been reading. It is so powerful! I said “Where did you find that Psalm?” He replied, “Right here,” as he held up his Bible, “it’s been right here all along.” Sometimes we read a passage from The Word and it seems to sound different than before … it seems to jump out and grab us when we weren’t even expecting to be grabbed. It’s been there all along! I wonder what else has been there all along that we desperately need in our lives today? I would venture to say an awful lot. I just wanted to share this with you today and hope it hits you in all the right places of your heart.

Psalm 39 (ESV) – A Psalm of David

What Is the Measure of My Days?

1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.

3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

10 Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!”

A few notes to add… each time “Selah” appears in a psalm the author means for us to take a breath, to pause and calmly think about what has just been said. The word “Handbreadth” is a unit of measurement, the width of my hand, only a few inches. Psalm 90:12 says, “teach us to number our days.” It seems to echo what is being said in Psalm 39. Life is short, so, it isn’t your imagination when it seems time is flying by. We must pay attention and not let it slip away. We need to focus on being intentional in our pursuits. Much could be said but I’d rather have you to quietly ponder these words yourself and let God speak to your heart as He has mine.

Tomorrow I have a follow up blog continuing the theme of ‘time’ so come back and visit me.

Just Jesus,

 

Sheri Langley

A fellow sojourner