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The Psalmist recognizes how easy a person can sin with words. The Bible compares the tongue to a restless evil, full of deadly poison (Ja 3:8). The Psalmist decides to watch his ways and to muzzle his mouth before wicked people. He remained silent, not even saying anything good. He seems to have been suffering, perhaps because of sin, and he recognized that God had allowed this (9,10). So, in his silence, he meditated on life until a fire burned in his heart.
Finally, the Psalmist asked God to show him how brief human life is. He understood that his lifespan was short compared to God’s eternal nature. People are like a breath or a phantom, even if they seem to be secure because of accumulated wealth.
Life is too short to heap up wealth in vain, for who will receive it when we are gone? The Psalmist saw that his hope was only in the Lord. He prayed to be saved from all his transgressions. He asked God to remove the scourge upon him and to hear his cry for help. Because God looked upon him with rebuke and discipline, the Psalmist felt like a foreigner to God (12). He asked God to take away his stern look from him so that he may enjoy life again in fellowship with God. What are you looking for in life? Put your hope in God.
May 13, 2026
WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?
Passage: bible.psalm 39:1-13
Key verse: 7
NIV
chapter 39
1. [For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.] 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."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding me about the brevity of life. My only hope is in you.
One Word: Lord, my hope is in you