Rescue me from my rebellion

Psalms 39 (a Psalm of David)

I said to myself, " I will watch what I do
    and not sin in what I say.
I will curb my tongue
    when the ungodly are around me"
But as I stood there in silence--
    not even speaking of good things--
    the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point.
My thoughts grew hot within me
    and began to burn,
    igniting a fire of words:


Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
   Remind me that my days are numbered,
   and that my life is fleeing away.
My life is no longer than the width of my hand.
An entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    human existence is but a breath.


We are merely moving shadows,
     and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
     We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.


And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
    My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion,
    for even fools mock me when I rebel.
I am silent before you; I won't say a word.
    For my punishment is from you.
Please, don't punish me anymore!
    I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline people for their sins,
    their lives can be crushed like the life of a moth.
    Human existence is as frail as breath.


Hear my prayer, O LORD!
    Listen to my cries for help!
    Don't ignore my tears.
For I am your guest--
    a traveler passing through,
    as my ancestors were before me.
Spare me so I can smile again
    before I am gone and exist no more.

Over this past month, the thought that my life in light of eternity is not even a speck of time has been making me think about priorities. The average man may live to an age of 70 or 80 years and if you are like my grandfather, you will pass the 100 year mark. Even then, what is it compared to eternity that we will face after our life here on earth is over. Though the span of time in this life does not amount to even a speck of time in light of never ending perpetuity - eternity, we get so bent out of shape because of matters here in our lives that we lose sight of eternity.  Our pursuits for love, wealth, power, and acceptance make us lose sight of impacting lives in this moment of time that is our lifetime. Don't get me wrong, we need love, money, jobs, acceptance, but let it not be the all consuming driving force for our existence.  David, whom God brought out of the sheep pens to be the King of Judah and Israel, whose life was spent in pursuit of many things  through many an ups and downs in life seems to come to that realization in this Psalm. We are just "travelers" passing through, as our ancestors before us did. Let our prayers be "LORD rescue us from our rebellion" so that we may not lose sight of eternity.

Brooke Fraser - CS Lewis Song