To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me." I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: "LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as hand-breadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. "And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish. I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it. Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah
"Hear my prayer, O LORD, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were. Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more."
A Psalm of contrition. David recognizes the extent to which he is offensive to God; where he falls far short of the LORD's desire for him. He was mute, he held his peace, sorrow-filled, with burning heart failing God's expectation from him. He pleads for confirmation that he, at his best, is but a vapor and reiterates that conclusion in the second paragraph. No where do we find the slightest indication of exchusing his behavior and charactor.
Then a magnificant pleaas for foregiveness. "Hear my prayer, O LORD, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were. Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more." O LORD, that my prayers would be of the same tenor.
Reading
Morning Psalm 23, Noon Psalm 119:169-176, Evening Psalm 112
Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures.
Genesis 12, Judges 12, Job 12, Psalm 12, Isaiah 12, Matthew 12, Romans 12
I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all seven, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.
