Evidence you belong to God

 Read Psalm 39. 

This song continues a similar theme as Psalm 38.  David tried to ignore his sin and not talk about his feelings.  But his stress only increased.  Stuffing one's emotions eventually leads to an eruption. 

Reading into Psalm 38 and 39 only slightly, it appears he suffered from some debilitating physical ailment.  He hurt inside and out.  This caused him to consider how short life truly is.  Note his descriptions of human life.

-fleeting

-a few handbreadths

-nothing before God

-a mere breath

-a shadow

-all the gain will be left behind 

While those things are true, he did not stop there.  What else did he know?

1. God was the source of his hope. (v.7)

This is the difference-maker.  If in this life only we have hope, our time here will prove to be empty and without lasting meaning.  Without genuine eternal hope many will behave foolishly, fall into depression, or worse.  Faith in God provides a very different perspective on life and eternity.  The brevity of life should cause one to live with eternity's values in view. 

2. His sin was the source of this suffering. (v.8)

He came to realize that there was no one to blame but himself.  His guilt was good in that it led him to agree with God about his sin and to seek restoration. 

3. God was the source of this discipline. (vv.9-10)

The pressure he experienced came from God.  One of the evidences that we belong to the LORD is His discipline.  A parent does not discipline the neighbor kids.  Parents are responsible to discipline their own.  God's love and eternal commitment to us is demonstrated as He pursues us in restoring our relationship with Him. 

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12)