Psalm 39

 Psalm 39

David was a hot mess. We don't know for certain what the issue was. Perhaps this psalm is a reflection of his sin with Bathsheba or some other iniquity. Perhaps it was prompted by hardship and persecution. Maybe it was a physical illness or in some way related to all of the above. Whatever the cause is, David can't even talk about it, but denial is never an effective strategy. Inside, David was a hot mess and was getting hotter. He asked a question that's extremely common in suffering; from a toothache to a terminal illness to a broken heart, we often ask, “How long?” In the final stages of my dad's terminal illness, one question he asked the hospice nurse was, “How long will this take?” Since life is short, we want to know, “Is this condition going to be my lot for all of my days?”

In verse 7 a corner is turned. The question changes from ‘how long?’ to ‘who?’. In either living or dying, David's hope must be in the Lord. God can end his hardship either by solving the problem, granting forgiveness, or by ending his days. Certainly all humans are as enduring as an exhaled breath. David comes to the conclusion that his only hope is in God: peace in the days on Earth and life after life on Earth.

“Lord, help me use every hardship as a tool to turn my heart toward You. AMEN.”