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.You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.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:
In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
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:
In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
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.
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Thoughts: Yesterday "The Iron Lady" died- Margaret Thatcher at 87. Yesterday Annette Funicello, the Baby Boomer Boy's Idol, died at 70. Two unusually strong women. Thatcher had alzheimers. Funicello had multiple sclerosis. Verse 9 comes to bear- "we finish our years with a moan." Death is a reminder that the smartest, the best politicians, the prettiest and strongest among us are limited. In fact the word "wrath" is used a couple of times in this Psalm regarding death. In this sense wrath is not specific anger at one particular thing, but God's limiting us because of our sin.
There was an old Greek Myth about a goddess who wanted to marry a handsome mortal. Her wish was granted but the man got older and older whereas she did not. Eventually the man withered into a grasshopper. God does not wish for sin to live forever- so he limits our bodies in order that we might be redeemed. We have a chance- usually 70 or 80 years to get our lives straight with Him. He does not want our pain- our alzheimers or MS or whatever to continue forever either (and usually we don't either). Human pride and accomplishments are limited as well.
So, teach us to number our days and get wisdom. This life is a gift- each second is a blessing. We would be wise to look to our Creator while He gives us the chance to do so.
There was an old Greek Myth about a goddess who wanted to marry a handsome mortal. Her wish was granted but the man got older and older whereas she did not. Eventually the man withered into a grasshopper. God does not wish for sin to live forever- so he limits our bodies in order that we might be redeemed. We have a chance- usually 70 or 80 years to get our lives straight with Him. He does not want our pain- our alzheimers or MS or whatever to continue forever either (and usually we don't either). Human pride and accomplishments are limited as well.
So, teach us to number our days and get wisdom. This life is a gift- each second is a blessing. We would be wise to look to our Creator while He gives us the chance to do so.
Prayer: God grant me wisdom to use my time well. Give me grace to love stronger, live better, and listen to what you tell me in your providence.
No comments:
Post a Comment