Living With an Eternal Purpose (Psalm 90)

"For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step."  - Thomas à Kempis, German-Dutch Catholic canon regular of the Augustinians and the author of "The Imitation of Christ" (1380-1471)

Many of us are living life just spinning our wheels without a clear plan after the end of our temporary and fleeting lives. Psalm 90 contemplates the themes of our mortality, God's timeless nature, and intentional living with an eternal goal. 

The authorship of this psalm has traditionally been assigned to Moses, who wrote it from the perspective of Israel's wanderings. This period of roaming was characterized by the brevity of life and the consequences of sin.

Before going further, I would strongly encourage you to read Psalm 90. Having a good idea of what Moses is speaking about will help your comprehension of the subject and aid in its application to your own life.

In Psalm 90:1-11, Moses begins his prayer (psalm) by drawing a distinction between between God and humanity. This first section discusses the eternal God and human frailty. Read Psalm 90:1-2 and answer the following questions:

• What is the significance of God being our "dwelling place" in all generations?
• The psalm conveys the nature of God's existence as "from everlasting to everlasting." How does reflecting upon God's eternal nature affect your view on your own life and the rest of the world?

The second section discusses human weakness and sin. First, read Psalm 90:3-6 and answer the following question:

• Compared to God's eternity, Moses describes humanity as brief and delicate. How do the images he provides help us understand the shortness of our lives?

Next, read Psalm 90:7-11 and answer the following questions:

• Verse 8 states that, "You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." What does this verse teach us about the holiness of God and the way He sees our sin?
• Psalm 90:1-11 connects human mortality directly to God's judgment on sin. How does understanding the significance of sin affect how you face each day?

The third section presents a prayer for wisdom and favor. Despite the brevity of life and God's holiness, Moses looks to prayer, not to escape this reality, but to find purpose within it. Read Psalm 90:12-17 and answer the following questions:

• It is highly likely that the most famous verse from this psalm is verse 12, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." What is meant by "to number our days," and how do we gain wisdom from this?
• This psalm transitions from lament (expressing deep sorrow or grief) to a request for mercy. What does Moses ask for in verses 13-15?
• In the last verse, Moses prays, "establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands." What is the importance of this repeated plea? How does God's favor provide enduring and significant meaning to our efforts?

Psalm 90 serves as a reality check of our own mortality and the end result of our sin, but it is not a psalm of hopelessness. It is a powerful prayer of an individual whose hope is fixed not in the temporal (earthly) but in the eternal, everlasting God.

Finally, think about your work or daily efforts. How can you devote your work to the Lord so that he may establish (confirm) it and give it eternal meaning?

 

Prayer: "Dear God, You are our eternal dwelling place, and we are only temporary. Teach us to live with purpose, striving for Your steadfast love every day. Gratify us, and bless the work of our hands with your mercy, and for Your glory. Amen."

Grace be unto you,

Lamai