We have but one life, and we do not know its length. Let us pray with Moses, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

Life is a precious gift, yet it is fleeting. Each of us has but one life to live, and we do not know the number of our days. We get one opportunity to live while on earth; after we die, there are no more opportunities. Anything we want to do to make a difference in our world (meaning the world of your family, your friends, your church, your vocation, etc.) needs to be now. In Psalm 90, Moses, a man who led God’s people through the wilderness, offers timeless reflections on the brevity of life and the eternal nature of God. This psalm calls us to number our days, to live with wisdom, and to pursue a life that glorifies God. Let us consider how we can love well, live well, and honor God with the time He has entrusted to us as we go about numbering our days: living for God’s glory.

God’s Eternal Glory: Our Dwelling Place

Psalm 90 begins with a profound declaration:

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Ps 90:1-2).

God is eternal, unchanging, and faithful. He is our refuge, the One who remains constant amidst the shifting sands of life. While our lives are brief, God is everlasting. He is our home, our security, and our hope. As we reflect on His eternal glory, we are reminded to anchor our lives in Him, for only in God do we find true stability and purpose. Always – no matter what is going on – our dwelling place.

Human Life: Brief, Fragile, and in Need of Reverence

Moses continues by contrasting God’s eternity with the frailty of human life:

“You turn man to [dust], and say, ‘Return, O children of men.’ For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night” (Ps 90:3-4).

Life is short, like a watch in the night or a sigh that vanishes quickly (v. 9). We are born, we live, and we return to dust.

While you read, take a moment and sigh to yourself. Moses explains that is the shortness of life. Sobering.

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