Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

David now asks God for perspective on the circumstances facing his life; he is reminded of our tem- porary existence:

• It’s Brief- “ Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.” (4) • It’s Numbered- “ Remind me that my days are numbered,…”(4) • It’s Fleeting- “ …and that my life is fleeing away.” (4) • It’s Short- “ My life is no longer than the width of my hand.”(5) • It’s Momentary- “ An entire life time is just a moment to you:”(5) • It’s Insignificant Compared to Eternity- “ human existence is but a breath.”(5)

“ Selah” or “Interlude” . It is appropriate to think deeply about these words.

II THE BREAKING OF HIS REBELLION - 6-11

“ We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.”(6)

The pessimism of Ecclesiastes creeps into David’s spirit as he is under the discipline of God. He sees the futility of putting your hope in earthly gain: “ Everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind. I am disgusted that I must leave the fruits of my hard work to others.”(Eccl. 2:17,18)

“ And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion, for even fools mock me when I rebel.”(7,8)

This is the turning point of this psalm as David turns from rebellion to fully trusting the Lord. God was waiting for the complete surrender of his servant to his will.

“ I am silent before you; I won’t say a word. For my punishment is from you. Please, don’t punish me any more! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. When you discipline people for their sins, their lives can be crushed like the life of a moth. Human existence is as frail as breath. Interlude {Selah}” (9- 11) There is a difference between being silent before the ungodly (verse 1) and being silent before the Lord. When God is disciplining us for sin the only time to break our silence is with a prayer such as David prayed, “Enough! I have learned the lesson of my sin, don’t crush me like a bug, I am as frail as a single breath of my mouth!” David did this when he was being disciplined for the sin of taking a census. When God sent the death angel to plague Israel for three days, David prayed: “ …I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! …Let your anger fall against me and my family.” (2 Sam. 24:17) He built an altar at the thresh- ing floor of Araunah that became the site of the great Temple of Solomon, “ And the Lord answered his prayer, and the plague was stopped.”(2 Sam. 24:25) There is a time to be silent and there is a time to let your words flow from your soul in prayer to God. Temples are built upon the broken hearts of God’s servants.

III THE BREAKTHROUGH OF PRAYER - 12,13

The Power of Tears -

“ Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears.” (12)

Tears accelerate the urgency and sincerity of our prayers. They are the ‘first-class postage’ upon the letters brought before the throne of grace. Hezekiah saturated his prayer with weeping when Isaiah told him he was going to die of his sickness: “ …he turned his face to the wall and prayed…’Remember, O Lord, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.’ Then he broke down and wept bitterly. Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord: ‘Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, …I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life…”(Isa. 38:2-5

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