Psalm 39:6-11 - May 5, 2009

Ps 39:6-11 "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. 7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. 9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. 10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11 You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth — each man is but a breath." NIV

If my hope is not in my riches, if the pursuit of wealth and possessions is not the goal of this life then what is? David answers this question simply and completely in one phrase: “My hope is in you!” Lasting peace and purpose in life flows out of a living relationship the God. David’s cry is for God’s deliverance form the power of his own weakness. How many times have we asked the Lord to save us from ourselves! God has provided so abundantly for His children through the new covenant that was guaranteed for us through Christ. Yet man forfeits what could be his through rejecting accountability to God. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, mourning for their stubbornness of heart. Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” The light of the world was walking amongst them. God’s hand of mercy was extended towards Jerusalem but they were unwilling to humble themselves and receive the Lord of glory.
Jesus’ response to their rejection was to withdraw from them and allow them to live with the consequences of rejecting the mercy and provision of God. Matt 23:38-39 “Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They were left to themselves, to continue in their sin and deception when the very Messiah himself had been walking their streets appealing to them through His word and His miracles of healing and deliverance, with a longing from heaven to gather them to the heart of God. Imagine rejecting such grace, and yet how often do we do the same thing. God offers His intervention in our time of need through the counsels of His word calling us to a transformed life and yet we, like the people of Jerusalem, are unwilling in the hour of God’s visitation. How many times does the Lord turn away sorrowfully from one of His children, leaving the house of this one desolate and all of the while knowing the mercy that He had intended for us.
In Psalm 39 David responds to the Lord in a different spirit. His appeal to the Lord is for forgiveness and deliverance from the power of his sin. David is insightful enough to recognize that the pressing circumstances that are encroaching upon his life are the work of the Lord not the Devil. I wonder how many times we attempt to bind away circumstances from our lives that are in truth the Lord’s dealings working to bring about our repentance and transformation. David speaks of the Lord dealing with a man’s sin by consuming his wealth. Our hearts are so attached to the realm of material things. Even as Jesus said in Matt 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When a man’s heart is bound to his possessions then to touch that area of his life is one of the quickest ways to expose his heart to the Lord’s dealings. Think of the rich young ruler who couldn’t walk away from what he owned to follow the Lord who had stirred his heart. It is time to examine the circumstances of our lives for the possibility that we have overlooked the Lord’s hand as He has reached out to discipline us and bring about needed change.
Lord give us eyes to see your merciful confrontation of our
unwilling areas through the ways that you touch the different areas of our lives.