Psalm 90

Many scholars believe that psalm 90 was written by Moses during the wilderness journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.

During this journey many passed away from this world due to their sin. Moses saw thousands of people dying in this wilderness journey. Hence there is every probability that death was one of the most spoken words during this journey.

”For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (vv. 9-12)

All human beings on this earth have to face death one day. All human beings are mortal. The hope of a Christian is that there is life after death – ETERNITY…
We will gain a heart of wisdom when we realise that our days are numbered!!!

Many of us worry, toil, struggle, and boast as if life is permanent and death will never occur. We live not being considerate of our fellow people. We build empires without realising that death can occur anytime. This realisation that our lives are short and that death is inevitable changes our attitude and perspective about our life and our behaviour and reactions to others. From an individualistic selfish attitude we may move to a collectivistic attitude of growing, helping, and nurturing other. Showing them the true essence of the character of Jesus!! In other words we will be contributing towards our future lives in eternity!
To gain this heart of wisdom about the frailty of life, let us pray “O God Almighty ……teach us to number our days”