It is a mark of depravity that the Lord must "make" men to know some things or else they will never knw. What did the Psalmist ask the Lord to make him know? Two things: How short his stay was here and how frail he was. I know these things have been talked about; we all agree that life is short and we are mighty weak. But until the Lord "really" brings it home and makes us to know, we do not know. I have seen these strong, rough-and-tumble men look as if they really could overcome the world. And I've been in there with them. You name a sport, and I could do it. When men would run, there I was close to the front. Get a ball game going and I could throw it, shoot it, kick it, hit it, roll it; you name it and get out of the way.
Ah, but now! The Lord has "made" me to know how frail I am. This old body won't go much. Running has stopped and those balls I could make go easily don't go so far or so straight, and sometime they don't go at all. What's happened to me? Frailty! But the blessed Lord had to make me to know.
Now what the Psalmist said in verse 6 has come home. "Every man at his best state is altogether vanity." I was with a young, strong man the other day as he helped me do some work. I remarked that it was impossible for me to do what he was doing, and he said, "I'd hate to be like that." Time, buddy, time will take care of it. Hang around a little longer.
The writer said in verse 7, "My hope is in thee." And my hope is in the blessed Lord Jesus and His sacrificial blood. He must "Make me to know."