LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Psa 39:4
THE FLEETING MEASURE OF OUR DAYS
THE FLEETING MEASURE OF OUR DAYS
“Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Professor Alexander and De Wette translate the last clause: “When I shall cease.” And Hengstenberg: “I wish to know when I may cease.” The Psalmist believed that—1. His days were determined by God. Man’s “days are determined, the number of his months are with Thee; Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.” “Is there not an apppointed time to man upon earth?” “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” So the Psalmist believed that the measure of his life was fixed, and the number of his days determined by the Lord. 2. He seeks to know when they will come to an end. “Make me to know mine end,” At this time, the life of David was one of trouble; apparently it was full of sorrow, and he was anxious to know when his suffering life would terminate. But, whatever may be the prevailing tone of our life, it is not a wise thing to seek to know the times and seasons of our future days. 3. He desires the termination of his days. David seems to have longed in this verse for his life to be brought to a close. In his present troubled state it seems to him that the end of his sufferings will come only with the end of his life, and he is impatient for that end. Job, in his sufferings, gives expression repeatedly to the same feeling: “Oh, that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me,” (Job_6:8-11). The Psalmist evidently knew that this impatience and this want of submission to the Divine arrangements were evil. Hence, for a time, and before men, he had curbed their expression; but now he pours them out before God. Blessed is he who, whether in suffering or in rest, calmly leaves his life to God.
There is still much vanity, and gloom, and sorrow, in life. There are times when our “burden seems greater than our strength can bear,” and we are ready to cry out in impatient complaint to God. But let us take our burdens to Him. He will interpret their meaning, and give us strength to bear them. He is the unfailing support in life’s troubles of all who trust in Him. “Lord, my hope is in Thee" - “My times are in Thy hand.”
There is still much vanity, and gloom, and sorrow, in life. There are times when our “burden seems greater than our strength can bear,” and we are ready to cry out in impatient complaint to God. But let us take our burdens to Him. He will interpret their meaning, and give us strength to bear them. He is the unfailing support in life’s troubles of all who trust in Him. “Lord, my hope is in Thee" - “My times are in Thy hand.”
BEING REAL WITH GOD
In the opening verses David describes the circumstances out of which this psalm arose. The presence and prosperity of the wicked stirred him to the depths, but he carefully refrained from speech. There are hot moments in our lives, when we do well not to say what is in our hearts. But if our feelings demand a vent, let us get alone and speak out our hearts to God. A softer tone settles on heart and tongue, when we reach His holy presence.
How frail we are, not only in our life, but in our moods! We need not fear men; they are but for a moment; as a breath that curls up in the frosty air, or as a shadow sweeping across the mountainside. Only God abides. Man is vanity; his pride and beauty are like a bursting soap-bubble; he is a stranger and pilgrim along this bank and shoal of time. But the child of the Eternal God is a guest with him, Psa_39:12. He travels in our company. He makes Himself responsible for our well-being. He will bring us safely home as He did all our “fathers.” (F.B. Meyer)
Personal note: During the years I took care of seniors, and in the last years of my husband and mother, I heard them speak in such a manner, because long lingering illnesses can, and will bring someone to this place- they are vocalizing this from the suffering they are going through- "I am weary of life; I wish to know the measure of my days, that I may see how long I have to suffer, and how frail I am. I wish to know what is left for me, to make up the number of the days I have to live."
Young people in full health, and enjoying it, can't relate to this. Only those who have been acquainted with people who are facing the end of life challenges, or those with serious chronic illnesses can understand this. For the young and healthy, death seems a long way off, and most of them push it far back in their brains, and avoid the subject-they really don't believe they are ever going to die. But, it comes, and the vast majority are unprepared to face their death.
The most important question in every persons life is, what did I do with Jesus Christ while I was here, is He my Lord and Savior, or, have I refused or ignored the opportunity I had to open my heart and in prayer, ask Him to forgive my sins, and receive the salvation He purchased for us on the cross. It's my prayer that this post will cause anyone who reads it, to examine their own hearts and prick your conscience regarding the shortness of your life, and the day you will face your last day in this world. Have you taken Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, have you thought about the day you will face Him, and give an account of your life, and what you've done with it? The day will come, when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord-you will bow your knee either willingly, or in subjection. I pray you will choose to open your heart, and receive Him as your Savior now, in this life, and come to know His love for you, while you have this time to do so. Once we leave this world, there is no coming back to get another chance. It is appointed for man once to die, then the judgement. Use the fleeting days of your life wisely, make them count for eternity, starting by surrendering your life to the God who created you, and let Him lead you in this life, and into eternity and heaven.
Lorna Couillard
How frail we are, not only in our life, but in our moods! We need not fear men; they are but for a moment; as a breath that curls up in the frosty air, or as a shadow sweeping across the mountainside. Only God abides. Man is vanity; his pride and beauty are like a bursting soap-bubble; he is a stranger and pilgrim along this bank and shoal of time. But the child of the Eternal God is a guest with him, Psa_39:12. He travels in our company. He makes Himself responsible for our well-being. He will bring us safely home as He did all our “fathers.” (F.B. Meyer)
Personal note: During the years I took care of seniors, and in the last years of my husband and mother, I heard them speak in such a manner, because long lingering illnesses can, and will bring someone to this place- they are vocalizing this from the suffering they are going through- "I am weary of life; I wish to know the measure of my days, that I may see how long I have to suffer, and how frail I am. I wish to know what is left for me, to make up the number of the days I have to live."
Young people in full health, and enjoying it, can't relate to this. Only those who have been acquainted with people who are facing the end of life challenges, or those with serious chronic illnesses can understand this. For the young and healthy, death seems a long way off, and most of them push it far back in their brains, and avoid the subject-they really don't believe they are ever going to die. But, it comes, and the vast majority are unprepared to face their death.
The most important question in every persons life is, what did I do with Jesus Christ while I was here, is He my Lord and Savior, or, have I refused or ignored the opportunity I had to open my heart and in prayer, ask Him to forgive my sins, and receive the salvation He purchased for us on the cross. It's my prayer that this post will cause anyone who reads it, to examine their own hearts and prick your conscience regarding the shortness of your life, and the day you will face your last day in this world. Have you taken Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, have you thought about the day you will face Him, and give an account of your life, and what you've done with it? The day will come, when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord-you will bow your knee either willingly, or in subjection. I pray you will choose to open your heart, and receive Him as your Savior now, in this life, and come to know His love for you, while you have this time to do so. Once we leave this world, there is no coming back to get another chance. It is appointed for man once to die, then the judgement. Use the fleeting days of your life wisely, make them count for eternity, starting by surrendering your life to the God who created you, and let Him lead you in this life, and into eternity and heaven.
Lorna Couillard
