Psalm 39:4-5

Lord make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before you; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah.

Psalm 39:4-5

This passage closes with the word selah, which can mean to pause and reflect, and this passage is indeed one that deserves reflection. David prayed for a reminder about how short and frail life is, and he compared the short duration of our life to that of our eternal God. Why should we be reminded of our terminus? Because it is easy for us to be distracted and lose focus on eternal things and a life of serving God.

In Luke 12:40, Jesus commands us to live a life that is expectant of His return because that return will happen unexpectedly. Living our lives in an expectant state of mind aligns us with God’s will and prepares us to carry out that will in our lives, therefore making us more effective disciples of Jesus, producing greater fruit for the kingdom. To keep us from drifting off the calling God has given each of us, it is helpful to remember we are just a vapor and will pass from this earth before we know it. Lord, let us be ever mindful of our human frailty and that we are here on earth for a moment; may we live a life that looks up to you, driving us to be effective servants for your kingdom.

Pastor Jeff Mericle