Yes, people wander around like shadows; yes, they hustle and bustle, but pointlessly; they don’t even know who will get the wealth they’ve amassed.
Reflection
When John D. Rockefeller, quite possibly the richest man ever, was asked, “How much money is enough?” He answered, “Just a little bit more.” But to be honest, Rockefeller was also one of the world’s greatest philanthropists, donating a total of $540 million to charity. In today’s money, that’s about $7 billion. Which brings us to today’s scripture, which tells us we don’t know who will get our wealth—unless you are John D. Rockefeller, who gave away much of his money.
David wrote Psalm39, though some credit Moses for writing it. In verses 4 and 5, David asks, “Let me know my end, Lord. How many days do I have left? I want to know how brief my time is. You’ve made my days so short; my lifetime is like nothing in your eyes. Yes, a human life is nothing but a puff of air!”
I find it interesting that as a young man, John D. Rockefeller wanted to live to 100. He almost made it, dying in his sleep when he was 97. I also find it interesting that John D. Rockefeller was a devout Baptist from childhood. Like David, he trusted in God.
Getting back to Psalm 39, David is very aware that life is transient. He was aware of this because of his suffering, but it also made him aware of God, on whom his hope was set. In verse 7 he wrote, “So now, Lord, what should I be waiting for? My hope is set on you.”
Like David our days are short—even if we live to 100—but we can still set our hope on God. We must set our hope on God.
Now that I’m 71 I realize that I am in the twilight of my life. I have no desire to reach 100, or even 90. But I realize that I must set my hope on God, something that has become harder for me to do, of late. I think it stems back to my first wife and how my family prayed for her to get better. She was sick for 11 years. And she died in 2017.
I know God helped me through my grieving, but something is missing. I need to set my hope on God. So let me go back to Psalm 39:12: “Hear my prayer, Lord! Listen closely to my cry for help! Please don’t ignore my tears! I’m just a foreigner— an immigrant staying with you.”
by Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
I find it helpful and hopeful that David, a man after God’s own heart, struggled in his relationship with God. So why not me too. I do struggle but I will set my hope on Him.
Prayer: God, I set my hope on you, now more than ever. You are my God and on you I trust. NOW AND FOREVER. Amen.
