Did God Really Say?

My last posting on Ps 90:10 attracted a number of interesting comments.

Firstly, I must thank those who reacted and responded (only my dear friend and brother Liat posted his comments online - thank you Liat). I am in total agreement with his teaching that the teaching of Ps 90:7-12 is for each of us to live our life usefully for God, regardless of whether we live to 70,80 or 120 years old.

However, my main aim for my last post was that living till 70 or 80 years old as written in Ps 90:10 is not a blessing but a curse for disobedience.

Those who want to quote this verse must quote it in the context that it was written, which is found between verses 7-12. Let's read that again,

⁷ We are consumed by your anger
    and terrified by your indignation.
⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
⁹ All our days pass away under your wrath;
    we finish our years with a moan.
¹⁰ Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
¹¹ If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
¹² Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Moses was lamenting the consequences that the Israelites had to carry as a result of their disobedience and was thus praying for God's mercy for them. In verses 7-11, Moses spoke about the resulting punishment on the people, and in with verse 12, pleaded to God to teach them to live carefully so as not to sin against God again.

Therefore once again, I ask you not to quote Ps 90:10 in your exhortation, encouragement to people who are sick or even claim it for yourself as though living to 80 years old is God's blessing.

But you say, "Hey, what about the official statistics on the lifespan of humans?"

Yes, according to the statistics of life expectancy (CIA fact book), the average human lifespan across the world is just short of 70, about 90 for those living in Monaco and around 82 in Japan and Singapore. These facts are facts. However, we, who have been redeemed, need not conform to the statistics the world, which include the ages of those who are considered in the same category as the disobedient Israelites.

Let's look at biblical statistics instead. Moses lived till 120 years. Joshua died at 110. They were from that generation who left Egypt. The difference was that they trusted and believed God. They were not subjected to the curse of a short life. God gave them days beyond 80 years.

For those who still disagree with my views about Ps 90:10, I would ask that, when you next claim or want to use this verse to encourage a sick person, try doing it with the whole verse (not just the front part). Try to tell them that they will live till 80 year old, but "yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."  Tell it straight into their eyes and say that this is God's blessing for them!

Did God really say .... ? Pray for revelation from Abba Father.

Steven