The Days of Our Life
Today’s Verse:
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses. He wrote this psalm in the later years of his life as he was looking back in retrospect on one hand and looking ahead prospectively on the other. Moses is praying about the days of his life (vv. 9, 12, 14, 15). It is a prayer that reminds us of the providence of God and our continuous need of being in submission to Him through all our days.
We see the refuge.
“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” Moses declares God as the dwelling place for all generations for himself, his family, and Israel. A refuge is a hiding place, a shelter from the storm, a place of safety, and a fortress from attack. He acknowledged that the Lord faithfully preserved and protected him and Israel year after year. Like for Moses, God is the dwelling place, or refuge, for our life and our family as well.
We see the reverence.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” As he thought about God’s preservation, he also thought about God’s providence. Before God made the world that we live in, God has always been God. God Who is everlasting; God Who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-encompassing; God Who is faithful; God Who is glorious; God Who is great; God Who is gracious; God Who is the same. Many years before, God instructed the psalmist, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When you are grieving or overcome with trouble, remember that He is God.
We see the realization.
“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.” Moses came to the realization of the brevity of life. The days of our life are finite, few, fleeting, and final. We spend our years as a tale that is told. Our sins and iniquities during our lifetime are many and unconcealed from God's eyes. He came to realize that if he could live his life over, he would have lived more prudently, more purely, and with more priority. C.T. Studd said, “Only one life 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.” Our days are short, and we must make the most out of them with what time that God has given us.
We see the requests.
First, he requested wisdom so that he would redeem the time for the remaining days of his life. Second, he requested that God’s mercies would be with him every day of his life. Third, he requested that his days be filled with rejoicing and gladness, regardless of the afflictions that he suffered. He desired to make the most out of every day, even though his afflictions seemed to stay with him. Last, he requested that God’s work through him would glorify God’s name and that the works that he did in this life would have a lasting impact in the lives of those he served and invested in. In effect, he prayed that he would finish out his days with fulfillment for him and the people he served. We must be careful not to allow the disappointments in life to leave us bitter and useless. Live out your days with God’s hand and happiness upon you.
Have a satisfying God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 23-27