Slices
Prepare
‘The death he [Jesus] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God’ (Romans 6:10).
Bible passage
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, ‘I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.’
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 ‘Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.
6 ‘Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth –
surely everyone is but a breath.
12 ‘Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.’
Explore
The psalms often speak to the human condition, in this case to death. How long have I got and will the Lord be merciful?
Other than wishing to put their affairs in order, why the author of this psalm should want to know how long they have left to live we do not know (v 4). Yet perhaps if we knew the time and manner of our passing away, we would probably spend our time trying to avoid death rather than living life in its fullness.
Our mortal life may be short, but is given to us to love, recognise and praise our Creator. Then we give thanks and realise that through Jesus, our lives can be brought to eternal life and holiness.
When God created us, he didn’t create automatons, but people with free will to love him or not as they desire. Those who love him are being sanctified (being made perfect), and will continue to love him in the next life. Those who reject him will separate themselves from him for ever. Length of life or the manner of our death matters less than where we are going, because wherever that is, it will be for eternity.
Respond
‘Thank you for all the days you have given me. Help me to live today and every day in the light of your word. Amen.’
Deeper Bible study
‘Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.’1
In the previous psalm, David is silent in the presence of his enemies.2 Here, he starts off silent in the presence of God (vs 1,2). There is a time to be silent and we should not be afraid of it – but then, David’s heart burns as he meditates (v 3). The underlying idea of meditation at that time would have been reading a sacred text out loud and then pondering its meaning. Whether silent or audible, David is deeply stirred. He pours out his lament before the Lord. Like Jeremiah, he feels God’s word becoming like a fire burning in his bones and he simply must speak out.3
David’s anguish leads to a powerful and insightful prayer (v 4). He is not asking to be given a date or time for his demise, but rather for a clearer perspective on life and death. Like Job,4 he becomes aware that life is fleeting and that, in relative terms, ‘Everyone is but a breath’ (v 5). Moses prayed, ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom’.5 Grasping the shortness of our earthly lives may help us to get an eternal perspective and take every opportunity to serve God’s plan for us.
It is sad that it took suffering and persecution to bring Job and David to this place of understanding and insight, but that seems to have been a part of what God was doing in their lives. He does not waste our sorrows, and neither should we. If we will follow David’s example of meditating on God’s word, crying out to him from our burning hearts, repenting and putting our hope in the Lord (v 7), then he will carry us through our circumstances, however long or short our lives turn out to be.
Read Psalm 90:12–15 aloud and meditate on Moses’ prayer, making it your own and thanking God for his unfailing love. Receive joy and gladness today.
1 Ps 43:3 2 Ps 38:13 3 Jer 20:9 4 Job 14:1,2 5 Ps 90:12
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 25,26; Romans 6
Pray for Scripture Union
The SU New Zealand Youth Team is developing a new workshop for youth ministry workers called Anamata which means ‘time to come, the future’ in te reo Māori. Please pray for its development and that there will be good uptake as it is rolled out this year.
