This is an incredibly humbling Psalm from a very wise David (potentially written later in his life).
“I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.’ So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: ‘Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.’ ” (v1-5,12-13)
The Psalm opens with an explanation that David would rather remain silent, not even saying anything good, rather than sin with his tongue. This however isn’t a long-term solution, since he has anguish inside caused by conviction from God.
Finally, David can’t help but cry out, though he does so to his God. David acknowledges just how brief and fleeting his life is compared to God. He notes that he is a breath, a bit of smoke, rushing around vainly. David’s son Solomon echoes this thought as well: ” ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” (Ecc 1:2-3) A famous song even draws upon this line of thought: “All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see… It slips away and all your money won’t another minute buy… All we are is dust in the wind.” (“Dust in the Wind”, Kansas)
So what is the solution to the futility of life? Well, David kind of leaves this in a cliff-hanger, with a brief glimmer of hope: “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.” (v7-8) I did say it was a glimmer of hope… but our only insight into making an eternal mark in this world during our brief time here is to put all that we have, our hope and faith, in the Lord, so that through our humility He may guide our words and actions. Since only He is eternal, the greatest legacy we can leave is pointing the next generation to Him through our obedience (which David tries to do with Solomon).
How do we put our hope in the Lord? David shows us the biggest first step: “Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping.” (v12a) We have to humble ourselves before God, admitting He is God, and we are not. We need to relinquish the control of our lives to Him, or everything we do will end up being meaningless, meaningless, utterly meaningless.
My prayer for today is from David’s own words: “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psa 25:1-5)
~ Conqueror in Training