David's Little Prayer

The psalms have plenty of prayers and praises from King David. One is found in the 39th Psalm.

O YHWH, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! (Psa 39:4-5)

It's interesting to contrast that with, say, young people (not only of today, but all times). They feel like they're immortal, like they will never die. As a race, we prefer not to contemplate our demise or think about how soon it will come. Whether it's 100 years or 10 years on this earth, it is, in the scheme of things, a short time.

Thanks to the movie of the same name, a lot of people have this notion of a "bucket list" in their collective heads these days. You know, a list of things we want to do before we die. The point is to be sure you don't waste your days. The point is that life is short. And, yet, like fools, we live as if we're immortal, pursuing fleeting pleasures instead of eternal treasures. How crazy is that? Perhaps we need to pray David's little prayer, too. Father, make us aware of the shortness of our days so that we will make better, wiser, use of our brief time on this earth to Your greater glory.