Psalm 90:9-12
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end like a sigh.
10 The days of our life are seventy years
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12 So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.
12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
After lamenting the fleeting nature of life, after which we’re swept away as though we were never here for 11 verses, the psalmist finally ends with the moral of the story:
12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
How long we live is much less important than HOW we live. What’s the point of achieving an extremely old age if we’ve done nothing with all those years except worry, deny ourselves, and struggle with everyone around us? The psalmist exhorts us to “count our days” because time only goes one direction. When we stay aware of that, we’re more likely to make every day count.
Of course, God’s version of making every day count may is not the same as the world’s version. In God’s eyes, the quality of a life is measured in righteousness. Did we give glory to God at all times and in all circumstances? Did we live graciously and generously, forgiving easily and sharing freely? Did we care well for all our neighbors, greeting everyone as the beloved child of God that they are? Did we follow Jesus, even when the way wasn’t completely clear?
No human being can do all those things perfectly all the time. That’s why we have Jesus to model perfection for us and forgive us when we miss the mark. We can, however, make an effort to live each and every day striving for righteousness as time, like and ever rolling stream, carries us closer and closer to eternity.
Prayer: Lord God: Thank you for your abundant and forgiving love that leaves me with no fear of the end of my days. May everything I say and do give glory to you, today and always. AMEN