Teach Us to Number Our Days

Psalm 90:1-12

Psalm of Moses, the man of God
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;
Yet their span is but toil and trouble;
They are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Teach us to number our days

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Have you ever enjoyed a day so much that you lost track of time and were convinced this day must have been shorter than all the others? While we know every day has the same 24 hours allotted to it, some days just seem to fly by.

In Psalm 90, Moses prays for God to “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (v.12).” He recognizes that life is short and passes quickly, especially when compared to the eternity of God.

Moses also notices that numbering our days leads to a heart of wisdom. Keeping the span of our life in the perspective of God’s everlasting reign helps ground us in His unchanging truths rather than getting swept up by the cares of the day.

When we become filled with pride and think the world revolves around our desires, God’s definition of time reminds us that the world goes on before and after our short time here. “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream (v.4-5a).”

When we are filled with despair that our life seems meaningless, God’s enactment in time reminds us of His attention to detail for us “like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers (v.6).”

These words remind us of God’s faithful, daily provision of food in the wilderness (see Exodus 16). Manna was renewed every morning, fresh and ready to be eaten (except for on the Sabbath, a day set apart for resting). Yet it was only good for one day before it withered and spoiled. Still, God continually provided fresh manna to feed His people. The Israelites were always cared for.

We, too, can take comfort in God’s faithful provision in our lives. He’s never early. He’s never late. Unlike the shortness of our lives on earth, God lives on. While our lives may seem futile, we can take comfort in our eternal God whose reign never ends. In Jesus, we know that though we may one day die, we shall live forever in His kingdom to come.

Time sometimes seems to fly by. Life as a whole can also seem to pass too quickly. We look forward to the day when we live outside of time and enjoy life in God’s kingdom forever.

“From everlasting to everlasting, our Lord is God (v.2).”

Discussion question:

Sometimes a current stressors in our life can consume our thoughts and time, but a week later, we don’t even remember why we were so worked up. What are you currently stressed about? Will it still be a concern in a week? 6 months? 3 years?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. I look forward to living in Your eternal kingdom that has no end. In the meantime, teach me to number my days that I may have a heart of wisdom. Amen.

 Challenge:

Time is a precious gift. How can you use your time as a way to show others you care about them?

Published November 12, 2020

About the author

Amy Bird is a child of God and wife of Aaron. She holds a Masters in Systematic Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and is continually amazed at how powerfully God's Word speaks into life today.
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