Your Days or Numbered

Psalm 90:1-12

“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.”

I put a foot-note in my Bible that Psalm 90 is the oldest, and its title is “A prayer of Moses,” it is not known if Moses wrote it or that the poem reflects a Mosaic perspective.  But all in all, that’s the only information and does not affect how you are going to live your life on planet earth.

As one gives thought to where your dwelling place is, it is not where your heart and soul find rest.  Moses has stated God is their dwelling place, it is only in God that they find rest for their souls.  We live in a time where each day someone is working hard trying to prove there is no God, how unlike this Psalmist who not only knew God, but also knew that He formed mankind out of dust and to dust our bodies will return, but not our souls.  He understood God has no timeline, but all people do have a timeline and God has numbered our days.  You may be like Jan and me, eating most of the time only what is good for us, exercising three or four times a week, hoping to live a more productive life, but it does not change the day God has picked for life on planet earth to end.  Please do not come to our funeral and talk about us in the past, for our souls are very much alive.

Verse twelve, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  What a prayer, it’s one I hope I begin to pray for myself, and with it Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”  In that you have no understanding, if today is your last day on Planet Earth, why not live as if it could be?  Why not cry out to a loving Father for wisdom, so you act wisely and not foolish?  For with wisdom you can receive the Lord’s ways, and wisdom will guide your steps as it leads you down the path of truth.  Wisdom will also give you a healthy fear and awe of a Holy God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice