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.
Application: 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