Read Psalm 90
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 whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but 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 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, 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 of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Go Deeper
Today’s reading is another communal lament, written on behalf of a group of people. This psalm is also written by Moses, making it the oldest psalm in the Bible!
The fourth verse of this chapter helps us to see the main focus of today: “For you, a thousand years are a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.” A thousand years is a long time, but let’s take a moment to think about how long that actually is. A thousand years ago, in the year 1021, the city we live in wasn’t even an idea in someone’s mind. The United States did not even exist yet. In America today, the average lifespan is 79 years. We would have to live our entire lives thirteen times to be alive for 1,000 years. Yet to God, 1,000 years is “a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.” God is eternal, all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful, and we are far from that.
So how should we respond to this? Ephesians 5:15-16 gives us some insight: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (ESV). Read that again. “Look carefully then how you walk…making the best use of the time.” We don’t know how long we will live; only God does. Instead of wasting the time we do have, we should be intentional with it. Instead of saying we’ll get serious about God or start serving sometime in the future, we should do it today. Our life could end in a moment, and even if it doesn’t, our life is still short. We should be on fire for God while we can, storing up treasures in heaven that don’t fade when we die (Luke 12:33).
Ephesians 2:10 says that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Even though God is eternal and so much bigger than us, we are still His workmanship, created for good works that God has laid out for us. Instead of waiting, let’s pick up our cross daily and follow Him.
Questions
- What is a step of faithfulness that you’ve been planning on doing for a while but haven’t yet? Take a step towards that goal today.
- How have you been serving others recently?
- How can you better serve those around you and use your time wisely?
Listen Here:
Take a few minutes to listen to this song inspired by this passage and meditate on its lyrics. Here’s the link to the YouTube video of Shane and Shane singing “Psalm 90.”
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4 thoughts on “Communal Laments: Psalm 90”
In a twinkle of an eye. That is quick. Our life is a vapor. Short. There are days it feels like a long time but then when you watch your grandbabies be born and growing it seems so short. My newest grand is 2 months today and 95% of her days I have held her, watched her change, watched growth. God’s creation is truly amazing, mind blowing. Holding her, praying over her, loving her, watching her grow, watching my first born baby love her own babies, nuturing them, teaching them about God and how to live in this crazy world is beyond awesomely amazing. Priorites to know Jesus and make Him known in my household, my neighborhood, my work place, the grocery store, resturants wherever I am for these few twinkles or vapors of my life.
God help me. Help me to be bolder. Help my life to be bolder about You. I am but a tiny vapor but I want my impact to be a legacy for my family. I desire You. Thank You that even when I do not want to or “feel” like it my words, actions and deeds are edifing to You and for You. Thank You for Your word, and songs popping into my mind all day, thank You that I can renew my mind on You, so that You get the glory, honor and thanksgiving for this day, these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!
After reading Psalm 90, the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 came to mind, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen”
The eternal nature of God and the fragility of human existence in this Psalm teaches me the importance of using my time wisely. I am grateful of the way God orchestrates my path and gets me back on track for His plan. In my afflictions, I have grown closer to Him and His Word has brought me abundant joy.”Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds” James 1:2
To God be the glory! Amen!
12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
I learned how to count when I was quite young, but being taught to “number my days” is something much more profound . . . I still need to learn that!