Teach Us to Number Our Days – Psalm 90

If this is Moses’ prayer during the wilderness wanderings, when the generation who sinned against Yahweh by refusing to conquer Canaan was left to die in the wilderness, so that the next generation would be the one to take Canaan, then we have a vivid picture of the many deaths after short lives that took place.  They were brought to an end by God’s wrath and were an object lesson to the next generation to teach them to number their days, to live their days making the work of their hands the kind that is established by God. 

We can imagine this 40 years as wearing on the people and their thirst for pity from God and for days of rejoicing and gladness to compensate for the many years of turmoil and sorrow.  For ourselves we need to pray for the same ability to number our days and to order our lives according to the fear of Yahweh instead of our own sinful ways, for nothing is secret from Him.

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:  in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.  You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.  The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  Return, O LORD! How long?  Have pity on your servants!  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.  Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!  (Psalm 90 ESV)