I have been reading in the beautiful Psalm 90 this morning because The Lord had brought verse 12 to my mind and heart. Let's deconstruct this psalm together.
Lord, You have been our dwelling place[a] in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
3 You turn man to destruction,
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
The psalmist begins by affirming that for generation after generation of man, He has been "our dwelling place". In other words, He has been the home of His faithful ones.
Next, the psalmist realizes that, even before we were created or anything else was created by God, He was and is and will be, from "everlasting to everlasting" the Supreme GOD.
I don't know about you, but that gives me blessing and comfort, to reflect on how our God is THE God of all gods. Time has no relevance to Him (vs. 4)
The psalmist goes on to talk about how mankind is bound by time, how our lifespan is about 70 years here on the earth and that a lot of that time is spent in frivolous pursuits ("iniquity" in one version).
Then, the psalmist prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."
What good is a long life, if it is lived chasing dreams that are worthless? You may feel that your life has been like that. Perhaps the psalmist felt that he had wasted some of his life in such a manner. I know that I have wasted some of my precious time here "on this mortal plane".
Most commentators and Bible scholars believe that this psalm is very old, that it was written, in fact, by Moses, while the Israelites were wandering for 40 years in the desert because they had refused to trust and obey God. Don't you know that there were times when Moses felt like giving up on this rebellious people He was called lead? Times when he wondered if the next day really mattered?
But, here is the good news: despite the past, regardless of how many birthdays you or I have left, we can still learn from Father how to spend the remainder of our days "applying our hearts to wisdom." The New American Standard Version puts it like this: "so that I may present to you a heart of wisdom".
This implies conscious thought and act, Friends, a deliberate act of the will. It reflects an earnest desire to please GOD by, when we see Him face-to-face, falling down on our face before Him and presenting to Him our lives of service.
In the New Testament, Jesus talks about in Luke 9:23 how we are to deny ourselves (our selfish nature) and "take up our cross daily" as we seek to follow in His footsteps. Again, taking up that cross daily is a conscious decision that we must make in order to gain wisdom.
Dear Lord Jesus, for the time that I have left, I choose You. I choose wisdom. Teach me how to make each day count for You and the furtherance of Your kingdom. Father, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in Heaven. Satisfy me in the morning with Your lovingkindness that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. Let Your work appear to me and Your majesty to my children. May Your favor, my God, be upon me. Please establish the work of my hands; yes, confirm the work of my hands, for Your honor and glory! I love you, LORD!
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