Psalms 39 — Make Me to Know Mine End
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. While I was musing the fire burned. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner.
“Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.”
— Psalm 39:4
- v.1-6 Awareness of frailty
- v.7-13 Hope in the Lord
After the awareness of frailty comes the redirection of hope. Not in life-extension, not in achievement — in thee.
A quiet anchor. When the awareness of brevity unsettles you, the verse names the only steady hope.
Verse 4 is the unfashionable prayer. Ask God to make you aware of your frailty. The awareness sharpens priorities.
Christ's days were measured for a purpose. The psalmist's desire to know his end is the believer's preparation for the day every Christian will see his end with the One who measured it.
A counter-cultural prayer. Most ask for years; the psalmist asks to know how short the years really are.
The awareness of frailty produces wise living. The verse is meant to clarify priorities.