Psalm 90:12: Spiritual Arithmetic

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

How many math nerds do we have reading this devotional today? I must confess, in high school, I was one too.* Today, in Psalm 90:12, Moses is going to encourage us to do some math. However, don't be afraid, because it's the easiest math that you've ever done, in fact, Moses even gives us the answer!

Well, what do I mean by this? Let's read Moses' words in Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days..." Here, Moses is petitioning to God on behalf of the Israelites, asking the Lord to teach them some spiritual arithmetic. He is asking of the Lord to help him and the Israelites number (that is, count) their days (that is, their time on this earth). However, if we read the entirety of this Psalm in its context, we find that Moses has already "numbered our days" for us. He says very explicitly in verse 10 that "the years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty." Phew! Moses does the math for us! But since the math is already done, what is Moses actually saying here?

Put simply, what Moses is encouraging us to do here is to consider and take to heart our brevity. Although 80 years may seem like an eternity, in light of true eternity, 80 years is nothing but a blink of an eye. The only truly eternal one is God, and our timespan pales in comparison to his. Thus, Moses petitions to the Lord to teach him and the Israelites number the days that they have, or in other words, help them consider their brevity.

But why? Well, Moses is going to tell us: in order "that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Why should we consider our brevity? Because when we realize the shortness of our time here on this earth, we gain great wisdom that enables us to live honorable lives unto our God. For example, if I truly consider my brevity in life, I won't wait to evangelize to my neighbor. If I realize my days on this earth are but a breath, I won't waste my time watching Netflix endlessly, but I will read my Bible more. If I consider how all of my days are but a blink of an eye in light of eternity, I won't seek to atone for myself, but rather run to a God who can alone establish my life for me (see verse 17). You get the point? Good.

So, we ought to all ask the Lord for the strength to do this spiritual arithmetic as we consider our brevity in the numbering of our days. Let us all not forget how short of a life we truly have and thus be foolish. Rather, let us live wisely as we consider how short of a time we truly have on this broken earth. Amen!

*Those Math Olympics were my jam.