QT 4/2/2024 Ps 90:1-17, The third half

Psalm 90:9–17 (ESV) —

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;

we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

10 The years of our life are seventy,

or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger,

and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!

 

NOTE: Have I ever used the phrase, this is one of my most favorite verses? It seems like there are so many in the psalms. In verse 12, the Psalmist asks God to "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." In Spurgeon's commentary, The Treasury of David, he writes,

 

Men are led by reflections upon the brevity of time to give their earnest attention to eternal things; they become humble as they look into the grave which is so soon to be their bed, their passions cool in the presence of mortality, and they yield themselves up to the dictates of unerring wisdom; but this is only the case when the Lord himself is the teacher; he alone can teach to real and lasting profit.

 

A recent author used the phrase the third half of life to describe retirement. The second half is that point where we realized that our lives must count for more than money but must have value and purpose, a sort of mid-life crisis. It reoccurs when we realize that we now have the time (and sometimes money) to do things we never could before. For some, they spend it upon themselves (vacations, hobbies, and leisure), but for some, it is the opportunity to be a missionary, an author of wisdom, a volunteer, and other jobs of service.

 

These days are important and are useful for the kingdom's sake.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I doing anything different in retirement to serve my savior?
2. Am I spending on myself, or am I spending on others?

 

PRAYER: Father, do give me a heart of wisdom to number my days and to use them for the kingdom's sake. Thank you for what I am starting to see.