Read
BOOK IV
(Psalms 90–106)
(A prayer by Moses, the man of God.)
God Is Eternal
1Our Lord, in all generations
you have been our home.
2You have always been God—
long before the birth
of the mountains,
even before you created
the earth and the world.
3At your command we die
and turn back to dust,
4 but a thousand years
mean nothing to you!
They are merely a day gone by
or a few hours in the night.
5You bring our lives to an end
just like a dream.
We are merely tender grass
6that sprouts and grows
in the morning,
but dries up by evening.
7Your furious anger frightens
and destroys us,
8and you know all our sins,
even those we do in secret.
9Your anger is a burden
each day we live,
then life ends like a sigh.
10 We can expect seventy years,
or maybe eighty,
if we are healthy,
but even our best years
bring trouble and sorrow.
Suddenly our time is up,
and we disappear.
11No one knows the full power
of your furious anger,
but it is as great as the fear
that we owe to you.
12Teach us to use wisely
all the time we have.
13Help us, Lord! Don't wait!
Pity your servants.
14When morning comes,
let your love satisfy
all our needs.
Then we can celebrate
and be glad for what time
we have left.
15Make us happy for as long
as you caused us trouble
and sorrow.
16Do wonderful things for us,
your servants,
and show your mighty power
to our children.
17Our Lord and our God,
treat us with kindness
and let all go well for us.
Please let all go well!
Reflect
All gravestones have two things in common: names and dates. There’s something else they have in common, something most people overlook – the dash between the dates. Names and dates are important, but without the dash they’re meaningless. That’s because the dash is more than a simple horizontal line, more than punctuation. In fact the dash represents everything that’s not mentioned on the gravestone – that life happened from the day the person was born to the day they died.
Psalm 90, possibly the oldest piece of writing in the Bible, is fittingly about the dash – about wisely numbering our days between the cradle and the grave (v.12).
Life is defined by brevity. In the context of eternity, we don’t have much time on this earth – just a short dash – no longer than a dream (v.5). We live for seventy years or so, and some a little longer, and then we pass away (v.10). Like blades of grass – we spring up in the morning and die in the evening (v.6).
The dash itself is not always easy. We go through good years and bad (v.14-15). Stuff happens! No one’s immune to toil, trouble, sorrow or sadness (v10, 15). Everyone’s life ends with a groan (v.9). Why? Because sin complicates life (v.8-9).
That’s not to say that life is all pain and no gain. God is in the dash. He shows favour and unfailing love to His servants (v.14, 17). Yes! There’s singing and gladness (v.14) because we know that God’s our forever home (v.1-2).
So what’s happening in your life? Is it meaningful – are you living only all for Him? From God’s perspective, are your efforts successful (v.17)? Life is passing by and will soon be over (v.10). From dust we came and to dust we’ll return (v.3). When all is said and done, what will the story of your dash be?
Respond
Lord, you are merciful and compassionate. Treat me with kindness so that all may go well with me. Help me to number my days – to live my life in ways that bring honour and glory to You. Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners