Read
(A psalm by David for Jeduthun, the music leader.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1I told myself, “I'll be careful
not to sin by what I say,
and I'll muzzle my mouth
when evil people are near.”
2I kept completely silent,
but it did no good,
and I hurt even worse.
3I felt a fire burning inside,
and the more I thought,
the more it burned,
until at last I said:
4“Please, Lord,
show me my future.
Will I soon be gone?
5You made my life short,
so brief that the time
means nothing to you.
“Human life is but a breath,
6and it disappears
like a shadow.
Our struggles are senseless;
we store up more and more,
without ever knowing
who will get it all.
7“What am I waiting for?
I depend on you, Lord!
8Save me from my sins.
Don't let fools sneer at me.
9You treated me like this,
and I kept silent,
not saying a word.
10“Won't you stop punishing me?
You have worn me down.
11You punish us severely
because of our sins.
Like a moth, you destroy
what we treasure most.
We are as frail as a breath.
12“Listen, Lord, to my prayer!
My eyes are flooded with tears,
as I pray to you.
I am merely a stranger
visiting in your home
as my ancestors did.
13Stop being angry with me
and let me smile again
before I am dead and gone.”
Reflect
Life is short and then we die. Seemingly cynical words about our lot but actually a biblically sound observation. Psalm 39 finds David frustrated with himself, other people, the world and God, his maker. He attempts to govern his passions and keep silent when contending with fools, but his anger burns within him when he realizes how short life is and the futility of striving to make things work and store up a bit of wealth while not knowing who will get it in the end. Ever feel this way?
The result of his outburst is surrender, “I depend on you, Lord!” (v.7). Our afflictions, frustrations and disquiet are meant to drive us to God. He doesn’t willingly afflict us, and in the course of our trials He either delivers us or comforts us but in the end they serve to wean us from the world and turn our affections to Him.
If we are intent on finding God and having a vital relationship with Him we will find ourselves living like strangers in this world. We will not fit in because, deep within us, we will have a restless longing for another place, the one we were made for. It isn’t easy and like David at the end of this psalm, we plead to be given a break and a chance to smile before we are gone.
Psalm 42:4, Psalm 62:8 and Lamentations 2:19 encourage us to pour out our hearts to God; in other words, to tell Him all. In any relationship this is how intimacy and trust are built. He knows the worst about us already, we are not going to surprise Him, and through Jesus He see the best in us. Go for it. Be real!
Respond
Father God, you alone hold the world in Your hands. Thank you for inviting me to live and love and have my being in you. I want to be holy and whole so you look good by the way I live today. Through Jesus I ask this.
James Paterson
James works as a visual artist. His current body of work is a series of metal wire sculptures called Prayer Machines which are whimsically ambiguous machine-like objects that give expression to mystery. “I love to share the gospel message, using art as a bridge, to encourage people in their relationship with Jesus.” He and Lynn have four young adult children. Publications Jim’s Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book (Bastian Books ,2007)