Life Expectancy

[Walter and Deborah]

Wednesday 10-12-22 4th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Tishri 15 5783 21st. Fall Day

Life Expectancy

Read: Psalm 90:1–14 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 39–40; Colossians 4
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A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by. Psalm 90:4

In 1990, French researchers had a computer problem: a data error when processing the age of Jeanne Calment. She was 115 years old, an age outside the parameters of the software program. The programmers had assumed no one could possibly live that long! In fact, Jeanne lived until the age of 122.

The psalmist writes, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). This is a figurative way of saying that whatever age we live to, even to the age of Jeanne Calment, our lives on earth are indeed limited.

Our lifetimes are in the sovereign hands of a loving God (v. 5). In the spiritual realm, however, we’re reminded of what “God time” really is: “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by” (v. 4).

And in the person of Jesus Christ “life expectancy” has been given a whole new meaning: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). “Has” is in the present tense: right now, in our current physical moment of trouble and tears, our future is blessed, and our lifespan is limitless.

In this we rejoice and with the psalmist pray, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).

What worries do you have about your life and its limits? How are you comforted by the presence of Jesus?

Loving God, sometimes this life is hard, but—even so—I sing for joy in Your provision for me. Satisfy me today with Your unfailing love.

INSIGHT

Moses’ authorship of Psalm 90, based on the superscription, makes it the oldest of the psalms whose authorship we know. In addition to this psalm, Moses is ascribed authorship of the first five books of the Bible—the Pentateuch or Torah—making him the most prolific Old Testament writer.

Some scholars believe that the background to the writing of this psalm may have been Israel’s failure at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13–14), where they rejected the land of promise despite Joshua and Caleb’s glowing account of the magnificent new homeland God had promised them. That rejection resulted in the forty years of wilderness wanderings the Israelites endured.

By Kenneth Petersen |October 12th, 2022

Death Of Humanity Psalm Ninety:1-14

1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

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.

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

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Love, Walter and Debbie

Edited October 12, 2022 by Walter and Deborah
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[JohnR7]

11 hours ago, Walter and Deborah said:

The psalmist writes, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10).

Moses wrote this Psalm. This helps us to understand why Adam was told that on the day he ate the forbidden fruit, he would die. Yet Adam lived to be 1,000 years of age. So we are told a day is as 1,000 years. 

I just turned 70 & maybe I will live to be 80. But it is difficult, and I am not sure I want to have to keep enduring the difficulties of life. The Bible talks about different ways we can add years onto our life. 

[BibleStudent100]

Indeed, Psalm 90 shows that the life of imperfect humans is short. Far from being a “downer” of a chapter about the fleeting nature of human existence, wherein we only live 70 years or with “special mightiness” we make 80 (Ps 90:10), the chapter encourages us to use our precious days wisely.  And just as the “green grass puts forth blossom in the morning and must change at evening when it whiter and certainly dries up” (Ps 90:5,6), so we must realize the transitoriness of life and not waste this precious commodity.  Instead, we should seek God’s guidance on how we ought to use our remaining years in this system of things and focus not on man guided solutions, but rather on God’s permanent way out of this troubled world. 

[Dennis1209]

I suspect there could be a correlation between Psalm 90:10 and Matthew 24:33-34.

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. [70-80-year life span].

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

If this “fig tree” is the return from the diaspora and establishment of Israel in one day [May 14, 1948], which I believe is the meaning. A little math is intriguing.

[Starise]

51 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

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. [70-80-year life span].

I like the fly away part of that. Remember the song, " I'll Fly Away"?.