Psalm 90 is considered the fourth section of the book of Psalms that corresponds with the fourth book of the Pentateuch, the Book of Numbers. The background of this Psalm is the time the Israelites were on their journey through the desert. The people had been free from slavery in Egypt, then were led to Mount Sinai where God gave them the law. Their destination was the promised land. But instead of entering, they went back to that terrible desert where for the next 40 years they wandered, because of their unbelief (until that generation died). Psalm 90 was written by Moses and it is a Psalm in which the presence of death is evident.
Someone said that the life we have today is the first gift we receive and the greatest of all. It carries great responsibilities, and we are stewards of our lives. Each one of us who is alive has been given this life to carry out the will of God. This life has been lent to us to administer it in such a way that when we are before the owner (which is God) we can give an account that we used it for His glory.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
But what is life?
James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Let’s focus on three verses in the Psalm... verses 10-12 where we are given to look at three things regarding the stewardship of life.
Psalm 90:10-12 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
1. In the stewardship of life, every life has an ending.
Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
In the stewardship of life, we need to understand (everyone knows, but does not understand), that one day we are going to leave this world.
People live in foolishness believing that life and death are some things that just come and go, or death comes and we become air or wind. That’s not true. When a man dies, he stands before God to account for how he lived the life that was lent to him.
Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
We do not have to live in fear of death. We should allow God to teach us to live a life full of wisdom.
2. In the stewardship of life, everyone must recognize that one day all will give an account of their life to God.
Psalm 90:11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
God should be feared and respected because He has the power.
Isaiah 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Glory to God that the son of God, those who accepted Christ will never have to go to Hell, but still will have to give an account to God for the kind of life that was given to him.
3. In the stewardship of life, while we have life, ask God to teach us to live our lives wisely.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
The key word is teach. God wants to teach us! The problem lies within us, not with God. For example, when a teacher teaches math, those who pay attention and stay diligent end up being the ones who get A's. The ones who were there but were playing or distracted are usually the ones who get a bad grade.
Learning requires will. No one can learn if they do not have the desire to learn.
4. In the stewardship of life, we can learn to live wisely, if we live out this the Word of God.
Proverbs 1:2-7 To know wisdom and instruction; To perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
