"YOU turn humans back to dust, saying, 'Return, O mortals!'
A thousand years in YOUR sight are like a day that has passed, or like a watch in the night.
YOU sow them in their time, at dawn they peep out. In the morning they blossom, but the flower fades and withers in the evening.
So make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart.
How long will YOU be angry, O YAHWEH? Have mercy on YOUR servant.
Fill us at daybreak with YOUR goodness, that we may be glad all our days.
May the sweetness of YAHWEH be upon us; may HE prosper the work of our hands."
- Psalm 90:3-5. 12-13. 14. 17
(The plural pronouns surely indicate that this psalm was sung in community. It hardly reads like a national song and the application is surely to the congregation as individuals. The 'anger' and 'wrath' of GOD have been used before [cf. Psalm 6:21] as a description of the brevity and the pain of life.
What is the meaning of our life? What are our values? We cannot elaborate a 'tomorrow' for ourselves, without counting on GOD. This psalm can help us.
Our days pass like a sigh. Our earthly life is short and frail before the face of the eternal GOD. HE is our refuge and can give meaning to our existence. Let us ask HIM to fill it with wisdom, which is to love HIM, praise HIM and serve HIM.)
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