Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "number our days" isn't just about counting them, but about truly appraising them, recognizing their brevity and fragility. This appraisal isn't for mere intellectual exercise; it's the vital first step to "getting" or "garnering" a heart of wisdom, like gathering a precious harvest.
This prayer arises from a deep reflection on God's eternal nature contrasted with humanity's fleeting life, prompted by God's judgment on the Israelites. Moses is essentially saying, "God, you are eternal, but we're just passing through, and you've shown us how quickly our lives can end." The verses that follow are petitions for God's mercy, asking for His favor to restore them and establish their work, all in light of life's brevity.
Ever feel like you're just going through the motions? This verse reminds us that true wisdom isn't something we conjure up on our own.
The Psalmist doesn't just ask to learn to number his days; he prays, 'So teach us.' This highlights that understanding the true value and brevity of our time is a gift from God, not an intellectual achievement. It’s a spiritual insight that requires divine intervention. We aren't meant to figure this out alone; we need God’s Spirit to reveal the significance of our numbered days.
What does it really mean to 'get a heart of wisdom'? It’s more than just knowing facts; it’s about how we live.
The ultimate purpose of understanding the shortness of our days isn't just to be aware of death. It’s to cultivate a 'heart of wisdom.' This isn't about intellectual brilliance, but about a transformed inner life – a heart that fears God and aligns with His commands. When we grasp that our time is limited and precious, it should compel us to live purposefully, making choices that honor God and reflect true godliness.
Moses, the author of this Psalm, penned these words during a time of severe judgment. What does that tell us about the purpose of this prayer?
The context of Psalm 90, particularly the judgment on the Israelites in the wilderness, adds a profound layer. The Psalmist isn't praying for a way to escape death or revoke God's judgment on that generation. Instead, the prayer to number days and gain wisdom is about preparing for what comes after this life. It’s a call to make the most of our allotted time, not for earthly gain, but to secure eternal happiness and prepare for accountability before God.
Understand the original words
lebab · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, the heart represents the center of human intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. It is the seat of moral character and the core of a person's decision-making.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
Practical wisdom, the skill of living in accordance with God's will. It involves applying divine truth to daily life and recognizing the fleeting nature of human existence.
Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, arises directly from the profound experience of the Israelites' 40-year journey in the desert. This generation faced God's judgment and the constant reality of death, making the plea to 'number our days' an urgent call to live wisely in light of life's brevity and God's justice.
c. 1440-1400 BC— this verse
Israelites in the Wilderness
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. This period was marked by hardship, divine judgment for disobedience, and constant reminders of their mortality.
c. 1440 BC
Forty Years of Wandering Begins
The generation that left Egypt, except for Caleb and Joshua, was doomed to die in the wilderness due to their rebellion and disbelief.
c. 1400 BC
Moses Writes Psalm 90
Tradition holds that Moses authored Psalm 90, reflecting on the harsh realities of the wilderness sojourn and the swift passage of life.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Approaches
As the wilderness generation nears its end, the new generation prepares to enter the Promised Land, a transition underscoring the theme of life's brevity and the need for wisdom.
This parable directly addresses the folly of accumulating earthly wealth without considering the brevity of life or preparing for eternity, highlighting the need for spiritual wisdom over material possessions.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8This passage speaks to the appointed times for all things, including birth and death, which can foster a deeper appreciation for the present moment and the wisdom of living in accordance with God's timing.
James 4:13-16James warns against presumptuous planning and boasting about the future, urging believers to acknowledge their dependence on God and the uncertainty of tomorrow, thus echoing the prayer for numbered days and wise hearts.
Matthew 7:24-27Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders emphasizes the practical application of wisdom (hearing and doing His words) to withstand life's storms, illustrating the ultimate goal of numbering our days: to build on a solid foundation.
bensonPsalms 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
Psalm 90:12 . So teach us — By thy Spirit and grace, as thou hast already taught us by thy word; to number our days — To consider the shortness and miseries of this life, and the certainty and nearness of death, and the causes and consequences thereof; that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom — That we may heartily devote ourselves to the study and practice of true wisdom; meaning, undoubtedly, that wisdom…
ellicottPsalms 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
(12) Number our days. —This verse as it stands literally gives to allot, or in allotting (see Isaiah 65:12 ), our days, so teach, and we will cause to come the heart wisdom. The last clause, if intelligible at all, must mean “that we may offer a wise heart,” and the natural way to understand the verse is to make God, not man, as in the Authorised Version, the reckoner of the days. “In allotting our days th…
The phrase "number our days" isn't just about counting them, but about truly appraising them, recognizing their brevity and fragility. This appraisal isn't for mere intellectual exercise; it's the vital first step to "getting" or "garnering" a heart of wisdom, like gathering a precious harvest.
This prayer arises from a deep reflection on God's eternal nature contrasted with humanity's fleeting life, prompted by God's judgment on the Israelites. Moses is essentially saying, "God, you are eternal, but we're just passing through, and you've shown us how quickly our lives can end." The verses that follow are petitions for God's mercy, asking for His favor to restore them and establish their work, all in light of life's brevity.
This prayer arises from a deep reflection on God's eternal nature contrasted with humanity's fleeting life, prompted by God's judgment on the Israelites. Moses is essentially saying, "God, you are eternal, but we're just passing through, and you've shown us how quickly our lives can end." The verses that follow are petitions for God's mercy, asking for His favor to restore them and establish their work, all in light of life's brevity.
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"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." — The phrase "number our days" isn't just about counting them, but about truly appraising them, recognizing their brevity and fragility. This appraisal isn't for mere intellectual exercise; it's the…