1 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.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 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.
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
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 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.
12 “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.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”
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When I read this psalm it makes me uncomfortable, honestly I want to look past it and quickly move on the the worship and praise that are so many of the psalms. But I can truly relate to what David is saying here because this is such a human issue, and so I must be thankful for the passage. I must thank God that He has placed in His word something that passes all time from generation to generation. This psalm is so human in nature and relatable to everyone. This is how I see it. David loves the Lord so much and out of that love he is trying his hardest to be pure for God. The pressure that builds up causes David to have extreme anxiety within him to the point at the end when he asks God to look away that he might enjoy his life again. That is human nature. We press into the Lord, we crave more and more of Him, even showing the people around us God's goodness through our actions. And that is a good thing, Jesus says that out of Gods love we should show others love. But the deeper we press into Him the more we see His holiness, cleanliness and the high standard that He requires of those who approach Him. We, as mere humans, can't do it, we can never be good enough, even though the desire is there. The pressure can be too much to take. And thankfully that's not even His intention, because He does not ask us to be good enough or do good enough, instead He looks at our heart. The even better news is that He solved the problem of the human issue when He sent Jesus Christ to us. Jesus is the perfect, spotless lamb who died to atone for not only our sins, but our shortcomings as a human being. Thank God for His unconditional love AND provision that brings us back into the relationship with Him every time.
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