S) "4 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness. 5 For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?"
Psalm 6:4-5 (NASB)
O) The premise is kind of absurd, on its surface. David was pleading with God, to rescue him, based on the idea that no one would praise the Lord if David did not. No one would give God thanks if not for David. So, if he died, so with him would die the thanksgiving to God. Now, David must surely have known that he would be survived by the legacy of worship he had created. Practically speaking, David knew someone would still worship the LORD. But, notice David didn't ask who would give God thanks among the living. No, this was still about David's opportunity to worship. So, a little deeper, we see that these verses are really getting at the heart of David, revealing that at the core of his life was worship of his God. He was saying (confessing, really) that he could not conceive of himself, in a position that he could not give God thanks. He was pleading with God for his life, for the sake of his life's mission, which was to worship, praise, and thank God.
A) Figuring out a life's mission can be a life-long endeavor for some. At the core of Christian life, however, it really should boil down easily. My life should bring God glory. At the end of my days, the more I have glorified His name, the better a life I will have lived. Now, the details of how that looks can be quite varied. But, I can't get caught up in those details. David easily could have made the mistake of thinking his life was about his job: ruling a kingdom. He could have mistakenly thought it was about his family (and he generally failed at that). Instead, he defined his life by his ability to worship the LORD. We value life because of what life affords us the time or ability to do. When I consider that, as a Christian, I am called to die to my self, then valuing my life should be defined by what I can do for Him. I don't feel like my life is in danger, per se, but God is sovereign, and it is His inalienable right to end my life whenever He chooses. In light of that, I must take advantage of each day He gives me, to accomplish my mission in Him. At its core, I should focus to worship, praise, and thank Him. The rest is just details.
P) Father, I can't pretend that Your thanks and worship and praise, would either begin or end with me. You are so much more vast than my own, brief life. You were worshipped for thousands of years before me, and You will continue to be worshipped for thousands of years after me (according to Yoyr will to let humans remain that long). The value of my life is dependent on what I do with it, though. I know You are sovereign, and I am small, but if it is at all possible, I want my life to be valuable to You. Help me to be focused on glorifying You with every moment of my every day. Make me more aware of what's at stake in every relationship, word, and deed. Let only Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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