Teach Us to Number Our Days: A Coptic Orthodox Commentary on Psalm 90

✨ Executive Summary ✨

Psalm 90, a prayer attributed to Moses, is a profound meditation on the fleeting nature of human life against the backdrop of God’s eternal existence. This psalm serves as a poignant reminder to **teach us to number our days**, prompting us to live with wisdom and purpose. Moses reflects on God as our dwelling place throughout all generations, contrasting divine permanence with human transience. He acknowledges God’s wrath against sin and the brevity of life, ultimately pleading for mercy, joy, and the establishment of God’s work through His people. This powerful psalm resonates deeply within the Coptic Orthodox tradition, guiding believers to cultivate a spirit of humility, repentance, and unwavering trust in God’s providential care.

This commentary delves into the depths of Psalm 90, drawing upon Patristic wisdom, biblical context, and practical applications to illuminate its timeless message. We will explore the psalm’s rich theological themes, including God’s sovereignty, human mortality, and the hope for divine grace, urging readers to embrace a life of purpose and faith in light of eternity. Consider getting your church a new church website and share this commentary with your congregation!

📜 Commentary Sections 📜

Psalm 90:1 (KJV) — Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. (NKJV) — Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

The psalm opens with an affirmation of God’s enduring presence and protection. God is not merely a creator, but a dwelling place, a refuge, a sanctuary for His people throughout all generations.

This verse connects to the Coptic understanding of the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, as the “dwelling place” of God the Word. God, who cannot be contained, chose to dwell within her womb. As St. Athanasius writes, *“Ὁ Λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο, καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας.”* (*“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”* – John 1:14). The concept of God dwelling with humanity finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Incarnation.

Spiritual Application: Recognize God as your constant refuge in times of trouble. Cultivate a personal relationship with Him through prayer and sacraments, finding solace and strength in His unwavering presence.

Psalm 90:2 (KJV) — Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (NKJV) — Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Here, Moses contrasts the ephemeral nature of creation with God’s eternal existence. Mountains, which appear to be permanent fixtures of the landscape, were “brought forth,” implying a beginning. But God exists “from everlasting to everlasting,” a concept that transcends human comprehension.

This highlights the difference between the created and the uncreated. The created order, including time itself, is contingent and finite. God, however, is uncreated, self-existent, and eternal. This distinction is crucial in Coptic Orthodox theology. St. Cyril of Alexandria emphasizes this distinction when he writes, *”Πᾶν γὰρ τὸ γενητὸν ἄρχὴν ἔχει τοῦ εἶναι, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς ἄναρχος καὶ ἀίδιος.”* (*”For everything created has a beginning of being, but God is without beginning and eternal.”* – Commentary on John, Book I, Chapter 9).

Spiritual Application: Meditate on God’s eternity to gain a proper perspective on the fleeting nature of earthly concerns. Invest your time and energy in things that have eternal value, such as cultivating virtue, serving others, and growing in your relationship with God.

Psalm 90:3 (KJV) — Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. (NKJV) — You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.”

This verse speaks of human mortality. God “turnest man to destruction,” indicating that physical death is a consequence of sin. Yet, even in judgment, there is a call to repentance: “Return, ye children of men.”

The phrase “Return” echoes God’s continuous call for repentance throughout the Old Testament and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament message of salvation. This connects to the Coptic emphasis on repentance (metanoia) as a lifelong process of turning away from sin and turning towards God. The sacrament of confession is central to this process. The call to return is not just a command but an invitation to reconciliation.

Spiritual Application: Embrace the call to repentance. Regularly examine your conscience, confess your sins, and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. Remember that God’s mercy is always available to those who sincerely seek it.

Psalm 90:4 (KJV) — For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (NKJV) — For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.

This verse emphasizes the vast difference between human perception of time and God’s eternal perspective. A thousand years, a seemingly immense period of time to humans, is like a mere “yesterday” or a “watch in the night” to God.

This verse challenges us to view time from an eternal perspective. Our earthly lives, even if they span many years, are but a brief moment in the grand scheme of eternity. This perspective helps us to prioritize what truly matters and to avoid becoming overly attached to transient things. This concept is crucial for understanding the purpose of monasticism in the Coptic Orthodox tradition. Monks and nuns dedicate their lives to seeking God, recognizing the brevity of earthly life and striving for eternal communion with Him.

Spiritual Application: Cultivate a sense of perspective. Avoid getting caught up in the trivialities of daily life and focus on the eternal realities of faith, hope, and love. Use your time wisely, investing it in activities that glorify God and benefit others.

Psalm 90:5-6 (KJV) — Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. (NKJV) — You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers.

These verses illustrate the fleeting nature of human life using powerful imagery. We are “carried away as with a flood,” our lives resembling a brief “sleep” or the ephemeral existence of grass that flourishes in the morning but withers and dies by evening. The metaphor of the flood could refer to the devastating seasonal floods that Moses would have been familiar with while living in or near Egypt.

The image of grass that withers and fades is a common metaphor for human mortality in the Bible. This reminds us of the fragility of our existence and the inevitability of death. St. Isaac the Syrian reflects on this reality when he writes, *“Οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ὁ ζήσας καὶ οὐχ ἥμαρτεν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἀνάγκη ἡ μετάνοια.”* (*”There is no man who has lived and has not sinned. Therefore, repentance is necessary.”* – Ascetical Homilies, Homily 55). Recognizing our mortality should lead us to a deeper appreciation for God’s grace and a greater commitment to living a virtuous life.

Spiritual Application: Reflect on your mortality. Use this awareness to motivate you to live a life of purpose and integrity. Don’t take your time or your health for granted, but rather use them to glorify God and serve others.

Psalm 90:7-10 (KJV) — For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 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. (NKJV) — For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

These verses acknowledge the role of God’s judgment in human suffering and mortality. Our sins are not hidden from God, but are “set… before thee.” The fleeting nature of life is further emphasized, with the lifespan typically being “threescore years and ten” (seventy years), and even if extended to “fourscore years” (eighty years), it is filled with “labour and sorrow.”

The connection between sin and suffering is a recurring theme in the Bible. While not all suffering is a direct result of personal sin, sin has introduced brokenness and corruption into the world, leading to various forms of suffering. The Coptic Orthodox Church teaches that Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world and triumphed over death, offering us the hope of redemption and eternal life. The “secret sins in the light of thy countenance” underscores the omniscience of God and the futility of trying to hide anything from Him. This calls for radical honesty in our relationship with God, acknowledging our sins and seeking His forgiveness.

Spiritual Application: Take responsibility for your sins and seek God’s forgiveness. Don’t try to hide your shortcomings, but rather confess them honestly and ask for the grace to overcome them. Remember that God’s love and mercy are greater than any sin.

Psalm 90:11-12 (KJV) — Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (NKJV) — Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

These verses pose a crucial question: “Who knoweth the power of thine anger?” Recognizing the immensity of God’s power and wrath should inspire reverence and a desire to live wisely. The plea “So teach us to number our days” is the central theme of the psalm, urging God to grant us the wisdom to understand the brevity of life and to use our time wisely. This is the crux of the prayer: recognizing mortality should lead to seeking wisdom.

This section highlights the importance of fearing God, not in a sense of terror, but in a sense of profound reverence and respect for His holiness and justice. The “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). The Coptic Orthodox Church emphasizes the cultivation of a “God-fearing” life, which involves living in accordance with God’s commandments and striving to please Him in all things. The phrase “teach us to number our days” is a prayer for divine guidance in making the most of our time, recognizing that every moment is a precious gift from God. The ancient Desert Fathers frequently contemplated the brevity of life as a motivation for fervent prayer and asceticism.

Spiritual Application: Pray for wisdom to understand the brevity of life and to use your time wisely. Seek God’s guidance in making decisions and setting priorities. Cultivate a spirit of reverence and awe in the presence of God.

Psalm 90:13-17 (KJV) — Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. (NKJV) — Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

The psalm concludes with a plea for God’s mercy, joy, and blessing. Moses asks God to “return,” to have compassion on His servants, to satisfy them with His mercy, and to make them glad in proportion to the days of affliction they have endured. He also prays that God’s work and glory would be revealed to His people and that He would establish the work of their hands.

The prayer for God to “return” is a plea for His continued presence and favor. The petition to be “satisfied early with thy mercy” is a cry for immediate and abundant grace. The request that God’s “work appear unto thy servants” is a desire to see His divine purpose unfolding in their lives. Finally, the prayer to “establish thou the work of our hands” is a request for God’s blessing and guidance in all their endeavors. The phrase “beauty of the Lord our God” points to the transfiguration of believers. Theosis, or deification, is a central tenant of the Coptic Orthodox faith. Through the Holy Spirit, we become partakers of the divine nature.

Spiritual Application: Pray for God’s mercy, joy, and blessing in your life. Trust in His providential care and seek His guidance in all your endeavors. Dedicate your work to God and ask Him to establish it for His glory.

💡 Key Reflections and Teachings 💡

Here are some key reflections and teachings from Psalm 90, applicable to our modern lives:

• 🕰️ **Embrace the brevity of life:** Recognizing the fleeting nature of our earthly existence should motivate us to live with purpose and intention, making the most of every moment.
• 🙏 **Seek wisdom from God:** Pray for divine guidance to understand the true meaning of life and to make wise choices that align with God’s will.
• 🕊️ **Find refuge in God’s presence:** God is our dwelling place, our constant refuge in times of trouble. Cultivate a personal relationship with Him through prayer and sacraments, finding solace and strength in His unwavering love.
• ✝️ **Repent and seek forgiveness:** Acknowledge your sins and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. Embrace the sacrament of confession and strive to live a life of repentance and renewal.
• ✨ **Dedicate your work to God:** Offer your talents and abilities to God, asking for His blessing and guidance in all your endeavors. Seek to glorify Him in all that you do.
• 💖 **Live a life of love and service:** Extend compassion to others, reflecting God’s love in your actions. Use your time and resources to serve those in need and to build up the Kingdom of God.

❓ FAQ ❓

Here are some frequently asked questions about Psalm 90:

• Q: Why is Psalm 90 attributed to Moses?

  A: The psalm’s heading explicitly identifies Moses as its author. The content reflects themes prevalent in Moses’ life and teachings, such as God’s power, human sinfulness, and the need for repentance. Moses’ experience leading the Israelites through the wilderness would have given him ample opportunity to contemplate these themes.

• Q: What is the significance of the phrase “teach us to number our days”?

  A: This phrase is the central theme of the psalm, urging God to grant us the wisdom to understand the brevity of life and to use our time wisely. It’s a call to prioritize eternal values over fleeting earthly concerns, encouraging us to live with purpose and intention.

• Q: How does Psalm 90 relate to the Coptic Orthodox tradition?

  A: Psalm 90 resonates deeply within the Coptic Orthodox tradition, emphasizing themes such as God’s sovereignty, human mortality, the importance of repentance, and the hope for divine grace. The psalm’s focus on seeking wisdom and living a God-fearing life aligns with the core values of Coptic spirituality.

• Q: What practical lessons can we learn from Psalm 90 today?

  A: Psalm 90 teaches us to embrace the brevity of life, seek wisdom from God, find refuge in His presence, repent and seek forgiveness, dedicate our work to Him, and live a life of love and service. By applying these lessons, we can live more meaningful and fulfilling lives, grounded in faith and purpose.

🌟 Conclusion 🌟

Psalm 90, a timeless prayer of Moses, serves as a powerful reminder to **teach us to number our days** and to live with wisdom and purpose. The psalm’s meditation on God’s eternal existence juxtaposed against the fleeting nature of human life calls us to cultivate a spirit of humility, repentance, and unwavering trust in God’s providential care. As Coptic Orthodox Christians, we are called to embrace the psalm’s teachings, recognizing the brevity of our earthly existence and seeking to invest our lives in activities that have eternal value. Let us pray for the grace to live each day with intention, seeking God’s guidance and striving to glorify Him in all that we do.

Tags

Psalm 90, Moses, Coptic Orthodox, Theology, Commentary, Number Our Days, Eternity, Mortality, Repentance, Wisdom

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Explore Psalm 90 with this Coptic Orthodox commentary. Discover the wisdom of Moses and learn how to **teach us to number our days** for a purposeful life rooted in faith.