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Psalm 39 prompts us to consider the brevity of life – to have a proper perspective on life both in the here and now AND life when God renews and restores His creation. We often live as if this life is all there is, yet Scripture reminds us that it is not.
“Remind me that my days are numbered, how fleeting life is…We are merely moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” Psalm 39:4,6
It seems like, then, we can choose from two extremes. Either we can rush about frenetically because we know that we only have so much time left, or we can sit back and do nothing because, after all, it says all our busy rushing ends in nothing, so why bother?
Our most precious possession is our TIME. It is the one thing we give that we can never get back. So what we do with our time matters. Being intentional with our time matters. We intentionally choose moments to give to and for others, and we intentionally choose moments to recharge and refuel our own souls, SO THAT we have something to give.
Because David knows that his life is fleeting, he puts his hope in the Lord. He says “my ONLY hope is in You.” God is the one who stands outside time and can redeem the time. He shows us how to put our time into things that will last.
“Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18 (NIV)
When our lives are characterized by the wisdom that comes from heaven, we can put our time, effort and talents into things that will last. When we remember that our days are numbered, that our time is fleeting, we are reminded to put our hope in the Lord, and to use the time He has given to us with the wisdom He has given us!