Pastor Eli McTague recently guided the congregation at Faithway through the opening verses of Psalm 90, the oldest psalm in the collection and a prayer of Moses, the man of God. Though David authored the majority of the psalms, this ancient text focuses on time and the human relationship to it. Philosophers, artists, and theologians have long wrestled with the concept, yet Moses does not offer abstract theories. Instead, he presents personal and practical realities so that believers may make the most of their days on earth.
Recognizing the Eternal God
Moses begins by addressing God directly: “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:1-2, KJV). A right perspective on life starts with a right perspective on God. Moses elevates the Lord as sovereign, immutable, and eternal. God does not change or require effort to remain love, mercy, and goodness; these attributes are simply who He is. Unlike people whose temperaments shift, God remains forever the same.
The Apostle Paul echoes this reality in Acts 17 when he declares that God made the world and all things therein and has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. Time is linear, with a clear beginning in creation and a defined end. Isaiah 40:28 further affirms, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” A thousand years in God’s sight are as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4).
This truth steadies believers who feel overwhelmed by tomorrow’s demands, workplace decisions, or lingering uncertainty. What God was yesterday and is today, He will be tomorrow. A. W. Tozer observed that God has already lived all of our tomorrows just as He has lived all of our yesterdays. Believers therefore find refuge in the unchanging Creator who stands outside of time yet remains near as their dwelling place across every generation.
Remembering the Brevity of Life
Moses immediately contrasts God’s eternality with the shortness of human existence: “Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men” (Psalm 90:3). Life passes like a flood, a sleep, or grass that flourishes in the morning and withers by evening (Psalm 90:5-6). The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or if by reason of strength fourscore years, yet they are soon cut off and we fly away (Psalm 90:10). James 4:14 reinforces the point: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Death remains the great equalizer, the result of sin whose wages are death. Moses, who witnessed roughly forty funerals a day during the wilderness years, knew this reality intimately. Believers sometimes wish time worked like a video platform, allowing them to pause cherished moments or speed through difficult seasons. It does not. The sand in the hourglass continues to fall. Rather than becoming pessimistic, the response is to recognize that today is still available for encouraging others, witnessing, loving God, and loving the people nearby. Living as though tomorrow is guaranteed wastes the limited days that remain.
Relying on God’s Help
After describing the contrast between the eternal God and temporal humanity, Moses turns to the only sufficient source: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). The request is not for momentary insight but for ongoing instruction that leads to wise living. He continues, “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). The word for mercy here points to God’s steadfast, covenant love.
Many people, even within the church, remain inwardly restless and unsatisfied despite outward success. Physical possessions and temporary achievements eventually melt away like snow left in the sun. True fulfillment is found only in Jesus Christ, the Creator who is also the Redeemer and the soul satisfier. Those overwhelmed by the weights of life, those reviewing past years with regret, and those uncertain about what follows earthly existence are invited to turn to Him for teaching, satisfaction, and help.
Conclusion
Making the most of the time given on earth rests on three daily practices drawn from Moses’ prayer. Believers recognize the eternal, unchanging God who created all things and remains their refuge. They remember that life is brief and not guaranteed beyond today. They rely on God to teach them to number their days and to satisfy them with His mercy. In every season, the call remains the same: lift the eyes from the temporal, place them on the everlasting Lord, and live the present day for what holds lasting value.
