Discipline or Direction?

Psalm 39

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: to ^(A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will ^(B)guard my ways,
    that I ^(C)may not sin with my tongue;
I will ^(D)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
² I was ^(E)mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
³     My ^(F)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “O Lord, ^(G)make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
⁵ Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and ^(H)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely ^(I)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
⁶     Surely a man ^(J)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing^[a] they are in turmoil;
    man ^(K)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

⁷ “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    ^(L)My hope is in you.
⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    ^(M)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
^9 (N)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    ^(O)for it is you who have done it.
^10 (P)Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
¹¹ When you discipline a man
    with ^(Q)rebukes for sin,
you ^(R)consume like a ^(S)moth what is dear to him;
    ^(T)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

^12 (U)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am ^(V)a sojourner with you,
    ^(W)a guest, like all my fathers.
^13 (X)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    ^(Y)before I depart and ^(Z)am no more!”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2039&version=ESV)

I was once in a Bible study where we watched a video regarding how we might behave if we only had a few weeks to live.  I don’t remember the name of it but the entire study regarded living a life for the Lord.  In reality, most of us would probably live our life much the same way whether we knew or not.

Think about it, if we knew we were going to die we would probably be asking the Lord “Why?” and be lamenting over our destiny.  We would probably be so caught up in our own sorrows that we would forget that others in this world have sorrows of their own.  We may stop and call someone that we had not communicated with for a while but on the other hand we might be so caught up in our own situation that we would not want to talk at all.  I don’t know how I would react but I hope it would bring glory to God whether I would live one day or 50 more years.  I hope my life is lived for the One who created it and that I live and die in the same manner.

David comes to the realization in this passage that God is in control.  Nothing happens in this life without the direction from the Lord.  He believes God is punishing Him for his sins and ask that the discipline stop so that he may smile once again before He dies.  Much like getting a spanking, you just want it to stop! 

Often times I find myself feeling like David.  I think that for some reason I have not obeyed the Lord or I have displeased Him in some manner to the point that He is disciplining me and I want it to stop.  However, sometimes I wonder if the displeasure in me comes more from my attitude and my lack of hope in the Lord.  If He is in control of all of my life then I should rest in His direction for my life but sometimes I am confused at that direction and I begin to get frustrated, disoriented, and confused.  This certainly would displease the Lord yet the discipline is to teach me that I need to be happy in Him and not in the situation at hand.  Do I sometimes just want my way and do not take heed to the Lord’s calling?  I certainly don’t have the answer but I will continue to seek the Lord so that I may know His ways.  I trust that you will be doing the same.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila