“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Today I read an excellent blog, Hope in Death, written by a brilliant young apologist who also happens to be my son. It reminded me of how short our time on this earth is and that it is important to live with an eternal mindset.

My son’s blog was challenging and thought provoking. It reminded me of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90, a passage that has often challenged me. In this Psalm, Moses reflects on God, time and how short life is. I have some ideas about why Moses may have been dealing these thoughts.

First, I think Moses was disappointed about how his ministry was going. The beginning of the journey for the Children of Israel was filled with wonder and adventure as God worked in amazing and miraculous ways. Moses was at the peak of his ministry as he led the people out of Egypt and now they were going to the Promised Land. Whoops, the sin and stubbornness of the people changed the plan. They are actually going to be forty years behind schedule.

I think that is why he prayed these words: “We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 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.” (Psalm 90:7–10, NIV)

Next, he realized he was getting older. He was over eighty and forty more years in the wilderness, meant he wouldn’t reach his goal. He started the job and really wanted to finish it, but this dream would go unfulfilled.

Another reason for Moses reflection was that he had seen so much death. Firstborn children of every family in Egypt had died. Remember Moses grew up in Egypt. How many of these families did he know personally? Pharaoh and his army were swept away in the sea. I wonder how often he thought about the Egyptian he had killed. And now to top it all off friends, neighbors and fellow sojourners would be kicking off as they wandered in the desert. Death has a way of making us focus on how fast time flies.

I also think Moses was in a spiritual slump. After all the miracles of the plagues, speaking with God, a mountain top experience, and now he was wandering through the desert with a bunch of whining, complaining backsliders, who were ready to stone everyone or anyone at a moment’s notice. This would discourage most people.

So what did Moses do to deal with these hard facts of life? He took time to reflect on God’s view of time and life. He reminded himself and others of the importance of keeping God’s perspective of history, especially God’s perspective on our personal history. He ends his prayer with these words, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:14–17, NIV)

We would be wise to contemplate on our mortality. It is important to number our days. And then like Moses, we should remind ourselves that we are part of God’s history and plan. We should live each moment for the glory of Almighty God.

Lord, Let us remember how short life is so we will be wise with our time. Help us to focus on you in the midst of evil, even when we are afflicted. Help us to join in your work and bring you glory. Let our work be established by you.