(39:1-3) Keeping Our Tounge From Sin - David resolved to keep his tongue from sin; that is, he decided not to complain to other people about God's treatment of him. David certainly had reason to complain. He was the anointed king of Israel but had to wait many years before taking the throne. Then one of his sons tried to kill him and become king instead. But when David could not keep still any longer, he took his complaints directly to God. We all have complaints about our jobs, money, relationships, and many other situations, but complaining to others might make them think that God cannot take care of us. It may also look as if we are blaming God for our troubles. Instead, like David, we should bring our complaints directly to God. He can take it. 

(39:4) Life is Short - Life is short no matter how long we live. If we have something important we want to do, we must not put it off for a better day. Ask yourself, If I had only six months to live, what would I do? Tell someone that you love him or her? Deal with an undisciplined area in your life? Tell someone about Jesus? Because life is short, don't neglect what is truly important. 

(39:5-6) The Brevity of Life -The brevity of life is a theme throughout the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Jesus also spoke about it (Luke 12:20). Ironically, many people spend much time securing their lives on earth but give little or no thought to where they will spend eternity. David realized that amassing riches and busily accomplishing worldly tasks would make no difference in eternity. Few people understand that their only hope is ultimately in the Lord. The answer to the question of the meaning of life cannot be found in this world or made up ourselves. (For other verses on the brevity of life, see Ecclesiastes 2:18 and James 4:14.) 

(39:10) The Blow of His Hand - What did David mean when he asked God to stop punishing him with "the blow" of his hand? This is likely a picture of the difficulties or sickness David was facing that made him feel as though he were being struck. Evidently David thought God was disciplining him, punishing him for his sins. David was expressing his feelings to God, yet he also submitted himself to the discipline of his powerful and loving heavenly Father. 

(39:12) Travelers Passing Through - David rightly recognized that all of us are guests on this earth -travelers passing through-- because our ultimate home is on the new earth (heaven) with God for eternity. This perspective should change the way we live. How temporary our present lives are! But while our time here is short, the effects of what we do can be eternal.