Preacher Joshua Yong

Psalm 90:12

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

So quickly and we are already drawing to the close of another year. Some people may have already started to count the number of days they have left to the end of the year. How do you feel as you look back and count the number of days left? How you feel will depend on how you have used the days of this year and how you intend to use your remaining days. Regardless of how you feel, what we all will acknowledge is how quickly these days have passed and how time has flown.

In Psalm 90, Moses was reflecting upon the eternality of God and the brevity of man’s life. As Moses was wandering in the wilderness with the children of Israel, he encountered hundreds of thousands of deaths. Being confronted with death, it is most natural to reflect upon how short life is. Realising that life is short is useless if we do nothing about it. This is why Moses requested the Lord to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

• The Meaning of Numbering our Days

Moses prayed for the Lord to “teach us.” If we want the Lord to teach us, we must be willing to learn.

What does it mean to number our days? The word “number” here means “to weigh out.” It means to “appoint” or “account” with the sense of apportioning something. Therefore, to “number” our days does not only mean to count how many days have gone by or to count the years left. It also means to carefully weigh out and appoint how we use each day.

This means that there is a purpose for each day whereby each day is used deliberately. If we realise that there are limited days that have been appointed to us, then we ought to be more deliberate and careful in how we use each day. We cannot just let our days pass by without giving careful thought on how we use them. How deliberate have you been in your use of your days in the year that is about to come to an end? If you are to weigh them out, would you be able to say that these days have been fruitful days? They can only be fruitful days if they are days used in faithful service of God and in the study of His Word.

We have to use our days very carefully because once these days are spent, we cannot get them back. There are some who have wasted their days and their years, and who only regret that they cannot get them back or re-live them when they reach the end of their lives. If at the end of your lives, all that you have done or accomplished is only of value for life on earth and not for eternity, then it cannot be said that you have numbered your days. You have wasted them.

In the year ahead, resolve to number your days whereby you are careful and deliberate in how you use them. You can use these days deliberately if these days are used in the things of God. 

• The Purpose of Numbering our Days

The Word of God continues to tell us how we are to use our days. There may be some who are very deliberate and diligent in the use of their days; yet their days are not used for the things of God. They may use their days to accomplish their ambition, or for entertainment. But this is not what we should number our days to do. The Bible tells us that we are to number our days so that “we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” To apply our hearts unto wisdom literally means “to bring or cause our hearts to come unto wisdom”. This means that we have to lead our hearts unto wisdom, i.e. the application of the Word of God to daily life.

True wisdom is found only in the Word of God. True wisdom is not the wisdom of this world, but wisdom that is of God. We are only able to bring our hearts unto wisdom when we use our days deliberately to seek God’s wisdom in His Word. We can do this by setting aside time to study God’s Word. Will you make a commitment to spend more time in the study of God’s Word next year?

But it is not just the study of God’s Word, but also the obedience and the living out of God’s Word, to actually “apply” your heart unto wisdom. Each day must be lived “in living out the Word of God.” When you study about the faithfulness of God, you must trust in the faithfulness of God. When you learn of the sovereignty of God, it must cause you to submit and surrender to His sovereignty. Wisdom is not just the acquiring of knowledge or information; it is the applying of God’s truth into our lives. This is a life of obedience to God’s Word.

When you reflect upon this year that has passed, are you able to say that you have applied your heart unto wisdom? Have you grown in Christlikeness? Have you been living more and more in the Wisdom of God’s Word?

As the year draws to a close, and as another year is dawning, resolve to not only be deliberate and purposeful in your days, but let it be purposeful in the applying of your heart unto wisdom. Days that are spent not in fulfilling God’s purpose will be wasted, empty and sad. But days that are carefully numbered and used for the Lord will be meaningful and sweet.

Only one life to offer

Jesus my Lord and King

Only one tongue to praise

Thee And of Thy mercy sing

Only one heart's devotion Savior

O may it be consecrated

Alone to Thy matchless glory

Yielded fully to Thee

Only this hour is mine Lord

May it be used for Thee

May ev'ry passing moment

Count for eternity

Souls all about are dying

Dying in sin and shame

Help me bring them the message

Of Calv'ry's redemption

In Thy glorious name

• Avis Christiansen