David’s confessed fiery soul contemplation compelled by a sin-generated mental turmoil had altered David’s life perspective. The confession in verses 4 and 5 is continued in verse 6. The fast-approaching consumption of life and the unimportance of past actions had obtained his full attention. Grave sin and dire illness will alter a person’s perception of life. “What is really important? Is anything important when one is about to die?”
Grievous illness leads to life perspective change. Near death pinches the soul causing the mind to quickly awake from slumber. “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow. Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible) An aged successful Solomon confessed, “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17-19)
Jesus, in an attempt to pinch souls without a life-threatening event, revealed in the parable “The Rich Fool”, God’s take on people whose hard work and planning caused them to become very wealthy. “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” ((Luke 12:20-21)
Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
What then is there? What is the point? What is the meaning? Where is there hope that sure and true? Is there more than the phantom life? Yes! The answer to these questions are in the following verses to be revealed in the following BDBD.
