“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
This verse probably sounds familiar. It is from the one Psalm we have from Moses, who is called in the prescript “the man of God.” What does it mean to number our days? How can we truly gain a heart of wisdom? The context of this verse may surprise you.
“We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.” Psalm 90:8-11
At first glance the message of this Psalm seems to be “Life is short.” And that is certainly clear here, as well as many other places in the Bible where people are compared to grass or wind that vanishes quickly. But the much more important truth that Moses helps us see is why life is short – why people pass away seemingly overnight.
The answer: “your wrath.”
The verse that immediately precedes verse 12 “to gain a heart of wisdom” is verse 11 – “If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.”
Moses wrote this 500 years before Solomon wrote the Proverbs – so one wonders if Solomon had this Psalm in his hand as he wrote:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Prov. 1:9
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. 9:10
The bookends of the nine chapter introduction to the Proverbs is this essential truth about fearing God. So often we lack wisdom and fail to perceive truth simply because we don’t think about God at all – our minds are so distracted by the people and things right here in front of us. And one of the devil’s favorite lies is “you have plenty of time!” If he can’t convince us to sin outright, he will at least try to distract us and delay our obedience to God’s will. “That can wait until tomorrow. Next week would be a great time to have that conversation.”
And so we become fools who find ourselves facing death with a heart full of regrets.
A heart of wisdom recognizes how very short life is and how just God is to judge us for our selfishness and shortsightedness. But thankfully that is not the end of the Psalm, nor is it the final word on God’s nature.
“Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:13-17
Wisdom begins with the fear of God, but it ends with the love of God. Reverence for the holiness and justice of God leads us into a posture of humble submission to Him. This is the necessary preparation for true repentance and saving faith. And this humility before God should continue to shape us throughout our Christian lives as we grow in wisdom and our appreciation for the blazing glory of the all-Righteous God increases.
Knowing God and understanding the wrath we deserve from Him is what kindles our gratitude for the love He has given us in Christ.
And, significantly, wisdom leads us to action. From reverence, to love, to service. We commit the work of our hands to the Lord, knowing that only what He empowers will stand. “Yes, Lord, establish the work of our hands.”