Macbeth Versus David

Psalm 39:1-7

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1I said to myself, “I will watch what I do

and not sin in what I say.

I will curb my tongue

when the ungodly are around me.”

2But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point.

3My thoughts grew hot within me

and began to burn,

igniting a fire of words:

4“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered,

and that my life is fleeing away.

5My life is no longer than the width of my hand.

An entire lifetime is just a moment to you;

human existence is but a breath.”

Interlude

6We are merely moving shadows,

and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.

7And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in you.

Two kings spoke of the brevity of life and mulled over its meaning. In some ways the statements may sound quite similar, but in other ways they are very different.

One of them was King Macbeth, the subject of Shakespeare’s great tragedy. In the drama, which is loosely based upon the story of a real king who lived in Scotland in the eleventh century, Macbeth murders his rivals to the throne. His wife, driven mad by her conscience, commits suicide. “Out, out, brief candle!” Macbeth broods. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

And then there was King David. He, too, talked about people as “moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing” (verse 6).

But what a difference! David began his soliloquy with the words “Lord, remind me,” and closed by asking, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?”

Without God, life is meaningless, as Macbeth discovered. With God, life has purpose, as David discovered.

However, even Christians live some days more in tune with Macbeth’s outlook than with David’s. How are you living your life today?

I take your promise, Lord, in all its length,

And breadth, and fullness, as my daily strength,

Into life’s future fearless I may gaze,

For Jesus, you are with me all my days.

HENRY DECK

Bible Networking

Compare Psalm 39:7 with some New Testament verses about hope. Read Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; and 1 Timothy 4:10.

Notable Quotable

“Sweet it is that our hope should rest in him who is never shaken, should abide in him who never changes, should bind us to him who alone is the full contentment of the soul, should enter into him, since in him is our being.”

E. B. PUSEY