Hello everyone,
What a change! I read Psalm 32 yesterday and was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude at God’s great cleansing forgiveness. I read Psalm 39 today and entered in to David’s misery. The video, below, discusses why I believe God placed psalms like these in His God-breathed Word. I’m going to share the verse I chose right here, today, and then follow it with my thoughts on the two “selah’s” in this psalm:
Psalm 39:2 “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” Oh Father, I’m not as sure as David that I want to know how my life will end. I just want You to be very present when it does … that I could SEE you as I leave one body for another far better eternal body! But yes, Lord, keep me aware of how fleeting life is, that I might live it with meaning and purpose, doing your kingdom work. Help me to glorify Your Name! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SELAH #1: This selah comes after verse 5. The last phrase in verse 5 is “Each man’s life is but a breath.” Perhaps David, the psalmist wants us to stop right there and ponder that. Our lives are short. Super short. We need to remember that. The first phrase after the selah in verse 6 continues that theme: “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about …” We need to be reminded that we have a very short time to make a difference and so often we “bustle about” doing things that won’t really matter in light of eternity.
SELAH #2: This selah comes after verse 11. It’s interesting that the last phrase in verse 11 is just about identical to the one in verse 5 before our last selah: “each man’s but a breath.” OK. So now … twice … David has had us pause at that thought. Clearly, this is a psalm to remind us to treasure our days and number our days and not waste our days. The verse right after this selah, verse 12, starts with David’s anguished cry, “Hear my prayer, O LORD …” He is in a place of suffering and how he begs for relief from it and longs for close communion with God once again. He wants to be out from under what is hurting. Life is short! He wants to live happily once again. At least, that’s what I think he wants, based on my reading. How about you? Ponder with me God’s words, God-breathed and ready to teach, train, rebuke, and correct us. Love doing this study with you!!