13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more. Psalm 39:13

To close out Psalm 39, David realizes all too well that his life is frail at best. He does not need or want to be scrutinized by the Lord any more because he realizes the weight of his sin. It’s both a prayer and a cry for help.

The verse is similar to Isaiah 6:5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

What was God’s response? When one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:6-7

In today’s vernacular it would be: “oh no. You’re not getting off the hook that easily. I have work for you.”

Despite David’s sins and sorrows, God used David mightily. He didn’t let him off the hook just because David told Him to go away. He knows us better than we know ourselves.