Only A Shadow

"Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!" - Psalm 39:6

I wanted to point out a word in this verse that I often overlook. David says "Surely for nothing..." The Hebrew translation of this word is actually describing a picture of a vanishing breeze, impossible to catch, but easy to chase. These are kind of harsh words from David, when you really think about it. David is exposing the truth of the human condition apart from its Creator. Everything amounts to nothing apart from God.

David's conclusion, based on Moses' psalm (Psalm 90), is that God is the only source of our hope and satisfaction. Every other source is empty. We can spend decades building a career, building a reputation, building a social status, even a family, but none of it matters apart from eternity. David says that all of those accomplishments amount to simply chasing a breeze!

Then David uses another picture, the symbolism of heaping and gathering. For David, and Moses, there is only one thing worth pursuing, one thing we ourselves can benefit from for all eternity, and that is a heart overcome with love for God. It is in this context that David writes, “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you," and Moses writes, "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." Every worldly accomplishment we can pursue will not transfer into eternity, and the theme of Psalm 39 and Psalm 90 is that eternity is the only thing pursuing in this life! Everything we do only counts if it is sowing into eternity.

There are many ways to live for eternity. David and Moses' clearest example in this case is to cultivate a heart that is lovesick for Jesus, overcome with desire to be united with our Creator and see Him glorified in all the earth. This heart posture can apply to many different callings and vocations. Whether a plumber or a politician, all of it us have the chance to love God with all of our heart, all of our mind and all of our strength. This is the first and greatest commandment.