MAN AND HIS DAYS

The words of this psalm, attributed to Moses, express some fine truths. It is thought that this could be the oldest of all the psalms. It is a meditation on the eternity of God, and also on the frailty of man. Verses 1-6 tell us three facts concerning the existence of God. First, that before created things came into being, God was there; He was before all His works. The second fact is He will “out-date” all His works, “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”, v. 2. The third great fact is that, though He is eternal, He is involved in the affairs of time, “the span of existence between the eternities”, v. 4. He far exceeds the limitations of time and space. It is into this context that we place the incarnation, 1 Tim. 3. 16. We see its mystery and its miracle.

Let us notice what is said about man and his days. Often we remark that we live a day at a time. In verses 5, 6, we see how transient this time is; as grass, we flourish and then wither. Because of our sinfulness known to God, we pass our days under the wrath of God. By wrath, we are not so much thinking of His dealings with sin, but of His disposition towards it because He is God. This is a solemn thought. So it is that we spend our days as a tale that is told, v. 9. Note just how limited time is. There is an allotted span, 70 years. Many outlive this today, but prove how true verse 10 is. A doctor was told by one of his aged patients that we are prevented from dying, but we are not helped to live.

It is in relation to this that verse 12 has great relevance for us today. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Time is given to us as a precious endowment. To waste it is a sin. Each day matters to a Christian and it is necessary to seek wisdom as to how to use it. As we are able to find timely satisfaction in His mercy, we can fill our days with rejoicing, v. 14. We can turn our hearts to God in days of affliction, when perhaps depression and despair threaten, and we can ask Him to make us glad, v. 15. Most of all we can seek that our days may be useful in His work and for His glory, vv. 16, 17. Think on Ephesians 5. 15, 16:

“See then that ye walk circumspectly (with thoughtful wisdom), redeeming the time, because the days are evil”.