But a Breath

Today’s Bible Reading:  Judges 4-5; Psalm 39, 41; 1 Corinthians 13

Topic: Life

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 39:5

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. (Ps 39:5 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

I have observed that the older I get, the shorter a lifetime seems to be. I’m not sure how old David was when he penned this psalm, but he has clearly come to recognize the brevity of life on this earth. I find the reference to a lifetime being “but a breath” to be an interesting concept to contemplate. From the time we take our first breath out of the womb, how many hundreds of millions of respirations will we have taken in our lifetime? Yet all the breaths in and out of all mankind added together from the beginning to the end of time is contained within one breath of God. With one breath God imparted life to all mankind (Gen 2:7).

APPLICATION:

I know in my spirit that I am an eternal being, and that my days of life on this side of heaven are comparatively short. But these days—my breaths—my present physical life—has been given to me for a reason. The shortness makes it all the more important I spend my “mere handbreadth” well.

PRAYER:

Lord, make the remaining days of my short life meaningful for Your kingdom and for those I will leave behind.

For Your glory. Amen.  -AP