“For all our days are passed away in Your wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore and ten—and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away. . .So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.â€
Psalm 90:9-10, 12
True wisdom is living today like it were your last here on earth, but enjoying it like it’d last forever—which can only happen when we “abide in Christ†(Jn. 15:1-7) and “walk in His Spirit†(Rom. 8:1).
No one knows when Moses, that “Man of God†as he’s called in the preface to the psalm, prayed this prayer that later became a beautiful song of Israel. Perhaps it sprang forth in the latter days/years of his life as he reflected on all that had happened and how the God of Abraham had faithfully led him all the way. Or, maybe it erupted from the depths of his soul as he stood on Pisgah’s lofty heights on Mt. Nebo, looking down upon the Promised Land, which he could not enter (Dt. 34:1-4).
Regardless, this great servant of God, who led the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery... was one of the greatest intercessors for God’s People (Ps. 99:6; Jer. 15:1). . .the meekest man who ever lived (Num. 12:3). . .yet could have great moments of anger (Num. 20:1-13). . . never forgot the importance of trusting the Lord and “numbering our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.â€
An important part of this Heavenly wisdom (James 4:13-18) is remembering the Lord “is our dwelling place in all generations†(Ps. 90:1). It’s remembering that He was/is “the everlasting God long before the mountains were brought forth or the earth was even formed out of nothing†(v.2). To Him, “a thousand years is but as yesterday when it’s past and like a watch in the night†(v.4).
How important it is for us to remember this when we realize we’re like “the grass which grows up, flourishing in the morning, but is soon cut down and withers by evening†(vv.5b-6). Truly, as the Apostle James said, our lives are “as a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away†(James 4:14).
Therefore, again, in realizing that our lives “are as a tale that is told†and, if by God’s Grace and Mercy, we should live to be 80-years-old or older, we should make sure we don’t squander our time here on earth in “riotous living†(Lk. 15:13). Woe to those who by play the fool and offer only the crumbs of our lives to the One Who is the “Giver of all good and perfect gifts†(Lk. 12:20; 16:19-21, 22b-23; James 1:17).
May our prayer today be “O, Lord, satisfy us early with Your Mercy—that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. And, let Your beauty (Heb. ‘no ‘am’—‘delight, splendor, grace, pleasantness, sweetness, etc.’) be upon us, O Lord our God, and establish the work of Your Hands upon us†(Ps. 90:14, 17). That way we need not worry if our time here on earth has been in vain or if anything will remain after we’re gone (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 14:13). Thank You, Lord.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated June 28, 2010