Psalm 39:1-13 NKJV
39 I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
2 I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred up.
3 My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
5 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
6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.
7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
Because it was You who did it.
10 Remove Your plague from me;
I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,
You make his beauty melt away like a moth;
Surely every man is vapor. Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,
Before I go away and am no more.”
“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” (4-5).
Martin Luther, in his summary of Psalm 39, calls this psalm a psalm of comfort. He reminds us that it is easy to become discouraged when we see the godless living in wealth and security while the godly often struggle and suffer. This can lead to feelings of frustration, envy, and impatience. But the psalmist offers us a different perspective—a call to remember the brevity and uncertainty of life. Instead of fixating on the fleeting success of the wicked, we are encouraged to focus on the eternal—on the forgiveness of sins and the presence of a gracious God who sustains us through every trial.
In this life, we often see those who disregard God enjoying prosperity, ease, and comfort. The temptation can be great to join them in their self-assured living, chasing after wealth, fame, and pleasure. But the psalmist, and Luther following him, offers a word of warning and comfort: life is short, and all the things we accumulate in this world are nothing but vapor. Our days are limited, and no amount of success or possessions can change that reality.
Instead of envying the wicked or becoming bitter in our struggles, we are called to remember what is truly lasting—the forgiveness of our sins and the presence of a gracious God who walks with us through every affliction. Even when we suffer or face uncertainty, we have the assurance that God is our refuge and our help. He will deliver us, not necessarily by removing our earthly struggles, but by giving us something far greater: His grace, mercy, and eternal life. Let us pray: Lord, remind us daily of the frailty of our lives and the fleeting nature of worldly success. Help us not to envy the wicked but to find comfort in Your presence and the forgiveness of our sins. Teach us to trust in Your eternal promises, knowing that You will deliver us from all misery. In Jesus’ name, Amen.