““LORD, TEACH US TO LORD, TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS”NUMBER OUR DAYS”

Exposition of Psalm 90:12Exposition of Psalm 90:12

Dr. Gordon JohnstonDr. Gordon Johnston

Dallas Theological SeminaryDallas Theological Seminary

A VERY STRANGE HOBBYA VERY STRANGE HOBBY

Some Are SpookySome Are Spooky

Some Are SatiricalSome Are Satirical

““I Told You I Was I Told You I Was Sick”Sick”

Some Are SillySome Are Silly

““Here lies a life wasted on Here lies a life wasted on passing passing

pleasures and I am all that pleasures and I am all that remains”remains”

Some Are Quite SadSome Are Quite Sad

““Where You Are Now, I Once Was;Where You Are Now, I Once Was;Where I Am Now, You Soon Will Be.”Where I Am Now, You Soon Will Be.”

Some Are Very SeriousSome Are Very Serious

One Day Your Life and Mine One Day Your Life and Mine Will Be Summarized Within Will Be Summarized Within

That One-Inch Dash!That One-Inch Dash! Will We Leave

Behind A Legacy That Will

Stretch Beyond The Line

Between the Date of Our

Birth and the Date of Our

Death?

Would You Rather Attend Would You Rather Attend A Festive Party or Sad Funeral?A Festive Party or Sad Funeral?

It is better to go to a house of mourning It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting; than to go to a house of feasting; for death is the end of all men, for death is the end of all men, and the living should lay it to heart.and the living should lay it to heart.Sorrow is better than laughter, Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad face is good for the heart. for a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. is in the house of mirth. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)(Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)

Why Should I Think about the Why Should I Think about the Approaching Day of My Death?!?Approaching Day of My Death?!?

• Contemplating Death is Depressing, but the Contemplating Death is Depressing, but the Only Cure for Terminal FoolishnessOnly Cure for Terminal Foolishness

• Avoiding the Subject Will Only Doom Me to Avoiding the Subject Will Only Doom Me to Cram My Life Full of Frivolous TrivialitiesCram My Life Full of Frivolous Trivialities

• I Will Never Be Motivated to Live My Life to Its I Will Never Be Motivated to Live My Life to Its Fullest Until I Realize My Life is FleetingFullest Until I Realize My Life is Fleeting

• Knowing Life is Brief and Death is Certain Will Knowing Life is Brief and Death is Certain Will Motivate Me to Live for Christ and Finish WellMotivate Me to Live for Christ and Finish Well

““Stanzas for His Father’s Stanzas for His Father’s Death”Death”

Jorge Manrique (1440-1479)Jorge Manrique (1440-1479) Let the soul her slumbers break, Let the soul her slumbers break,

Let thought be quickened and awake, Let thought be quickened and awake,

To see how soon this life is past & gone, To see how soon this life is past & gone,

And death comes softly stealing on; And death comes softly stealing on;

How silently, swiftly our pleasures glide away,How silently, swiftly our pleasures glide away,

Our hearts recall the distant day;Our hearts recall the distant day;

With sighs the moments that are speeding fastWith sighs the moments that are speeding fast

We heed not but the past,We heed not but the past, t the past.he past.

““We are food for We are food for worms, lads. worms, lads.

Believe it or not, Believe it or not, each and every each and every one of us will one of us will one day stop one day stop

breathing, turn breathing, turn cold and die.”cold and die.”

- Robin Williams, - Robin Williams, Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society

““Do you see those lads in the pictures? They're Do you see those lads in the pictures? They're

not that different from you, are they? Same not that different from you, are they? Same

haircuts … Invincible, just like you feel. The world haircuts … Invincible, just like you feel. The world

is their oyster. They believe they're destined for is their oyster. They believe they're destined for

great things, just like many of you, their eyes are great things, just like many of you, their eyes are

full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it

was too late to make from their lives even one was too late to make from their lives even one

iota of what they were capable? For you see iota of what they were capable? For you see

gentlemen, those boys are now fertilizing gentlemen, those boys are now fertilizing

daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear

them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in.

Listen, you hear it? ‘Carpe diem! Seize the day, Listen, you hear it? ‘Carpe diem! Seize the day,

boys! Make your lives extraordinary!’ ”boys! Make your lives extraordinary!’ ”

BREVITY OF LIFEBREVITY OF LIFE(Psalm 90:3-9)(Psalm 90:3-9)

OUR LIVES …

• blow away like dust in the wind (v. 3)• span but a watch in the night (v. 4)• pass like a dream in the night (v. 5)• flourish and fade like the flower (v. 6)• expire like a breath (v. 9)

Our Lives Pass QuicklyOur Lives Pass QuicklyLike Dust on Windy DayLike Dust on Windy Day (Pss. 30:9; 90:3; 103:14; Job 10:9)(Pss. 30:9; 90:3; 103:14; Job 10:9)

““Dust in the Wind”Dust in the Wind” ((Kerry Livgren, Kerry Livgren, KansasKansas, 1977), 1977)

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone.All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity.Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.

Same old song, just another drop in the endless sea.All we do, crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see.Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.

Our Lives Pass as Quickly Our Lives Pass as Quickly Like a Fleeting DreamLike a Fleeting Dream(Job 20:8; Pss. 73:20; 90:5)(Job 20:8; Pss. 73:20; 90:5)

• Clinic studies show Clinic studies show that a typical dream that a typical dream lasts 2-3 minuteslasts 2-3 minutes

• Length of dreams Length of dreams often get longer the often get longer the longer one sleepslonger one sleeps

• Most people have Most people have dozens of dreams dozens of dreams each night, but few each night, but few remember even oneremember even one

Our Lives Flourish & Fade Our Lives Flourish & Fade Like the Desert FoliageLike the Desert Foliage(Psalm 90:6; Isaiah 40:6-8)(Psalm 90:6; Isaiah 40:6-8)

Consider the Dandelion of the FieldConsider the Dandelion of the Field (Job 14:2; Ps. 103:15-16; Isa. 40:6-8)(Job 14:2; Ps. 103:15-16; Isa. 40:6-8)

Our Lives Expire As Quickly AsOur Lives Expire As Quickly AsA Warm Breath On A Cold DayA Warm Breath On A Cold Day

• Psalm 39:5, 11 Psalm 39:5, 11 • Psalm 62:9Psalm 62:9• Psalm 78:33Psalm 78:33• Psalm 90:9Psalm 90:9• Psalm 144:4Psalm 144:4• Job 7:16Job 7:16• Ecclesiastes 9:9Ecclesiastes 9:9

LIVE FOR ETERNITY!LIVE FOR ETERNITY! Psalm 90Psalm 90

• Ground Our Hope, Not In Our Fleeting Lives, But In Ground Our Hope, Not In Our Fleeting Lives, But In

The Eternal God (vv. 1-2)The Eternal God (vv. 1-2)

• Worship and Obey the One Who Holds Our Fleeting Worship and Obey the One Who Holds Our Fleeting

Lives In His Hands (vv. 3-11)Lives In His Hands (vv. 3-11)

• Contemplate Our Mortality to Gain A Heart of Contemplate Our Mortality to Gain A Heart of

Wisdom (vv. 12-13)Wisdom (vv. 12-13)

• Recognize that God Provides Enough Joys to Recognize that God Provides Enough Joys to

Balance Our Sorrows (vv. 14-15)Balance Our Sorrows (vv. 14-15)

• Ask God to Show Us His Hand in Our Lives, and to Ask God to Show Us His Hand in Our Lives, and to

Establish the Work of Our Hands (vv. 16-17)Establish the Work of Our Hands (vv. 16-17)

““Teach us to number our days so we Teach us to number our days so we

may gain a heart of wisdom” (v. 12)may gain a heart of wisdom” (v. 12)

How Do We Spend Our Time?How Do We Spend Our Time?“American Time Use Survey”“American Time Use Survey”

• In 2007, the Bureau of Vital Statistics In 2007, the Bureau of Vital Statistics conducted a nationwide survey whose conducted a nationwide survey whose results were released June 25, 2008.results were released June 25, 2008.

• The survey identified the average time The survey identified the average time spent by typical Americans in various spent by typical Americans in various activities of ordinary everyday life.activities of ordinary everyday life.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm

How Working Adults Spend Their DaysHow Working Adults Spend Their Days

• Sleeping Sleeping • Employment/CommutingEmployment/Commuting• Leisure:TV/Sports/ReadingLeisure:TV/Sports/Reading• Household Chores Household Chores • Eating and DrinkingEating and Drinking• Purchasing Goods/ServicesPurchasing Goods/Services• Personal Care Personal Care • Caring for Family MembersCaring for Family Members• Educational ActivitiesEducational Activities• Religious/Civic Activities Religious/Civic Activities

• Helping Other Persons Helping Other Persons • Telephone/Email/Mail Telephone/Email/Mail • Miscellaneous ActivitiesMiscellaneous Activities

8.57 hours5.81 4.281.84 1.24 0.78 0.76 0.53 0.43 0.35 0.20 0.19 0.19

The Average Lifespan of The Average Lifespan of the Typical American Todaythe Typical American Today

• The average lifespan of the typical The average lifespan of the typical American in 1900 was only 47 yearsAmerican in 1900 was only 47 years

• The average lifespan today for the The average lifespan today for the typical Americans today is 77.6 years typical Americans today is 77.6 years (79.8 for women, 74.4 for men)(79.8 for women, 74.4 for men)

• This amounts to an average of 28,343 This amounts to an average of 28,343 days or 680,242 hoursdays or 680,242 hours

How Do We Use Our Free Time?How Do We Use Our Free Time?

• According to “American Time Use Survey,” According to “American Time Use Survey,” 18.79 hours each day are consuming on 18.79 hours each day are consuming on non-discretionary duties (sleeping, eating, non-discretionary duties (sleeping, eating, employment, daily chores, etc.) and 5.21 employment, daily chores, etc.) and 5.21 hours each day on discretionary activities.hours each day on discretionary activities.

• Our average free time each week is 36.47 Our average free time each week is 36.47 hours, which is equivalent to a full-time job.hours, which is equivalent to a full-time job.

• Although few Christians serve the Lord in a Although few Christians serve the Lord in a full-time vocation, most have the equivalent full-time vocation, most have the equivalent of a full-time job of free time each week to of a full-time job of free time each week to serve Jesus in however we spend our time.serve Jesus in however we spend our time.

My Grandfather’s MottoMy Grandfather’s Motto

Only one life, will soon be past;Only what’s done for Christ will last.

“For me, to live is Christ; to die is gain.”

Your Fleeting Life …Your Fleeting Life …

Waste it if you dare, Waste it if you dare, squander it if you will … squander it if you will …

Or number your days and invest Or number your days and invest it for eternity if you are wise!it for eternity if you are wise!