Number Our Days
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-
6 though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span [a] is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor [b] of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Reflection of Bee:
God's term of reference is different from ours. He is immortal, we are mortal. He is eternal, we are transient. His 1-day is our 1000x365-days (v4). That explains why we can't see what He sees. We tend to see the present but He could see our future and have allowed things to happen in our life for our good. For this we could sing for joy.
Yes, we also need God's favour, otherwise the things we do may not be established (v17).
Dear Lord,
I commit all my works and plans to You now. Teach me to number my days and walk in Your favour.
I pray for Your unfailing love to be with me every morning too, that I may sing for joy throughout the day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Reflection of Tommy:
Psalm 90 written by Moses is probably the oldest Psalm of all. Nevertheless, it contains a timeless, important truth about our time on earth being short and that we should spend it on things that are eternal. But so often, we find ourselves concentrating and channeling all our time and energy on things that are perishable and of little value. We should take time and effort to number our day (v12), to spend them wisely each day, realizing how fragile our lives really are and the urgency of God’s message for us.
Dear Father, thank You that because You are eternal, completely in control and unrestricted by time (v4), I can depend and trust on You. Forgive me of often blinded by the pursuit of temporal fulfillment that I lost track of being an effective follower of Christ. Guide and remind me always to spend my time more wisely and for eternal good. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
