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“A New Year Prayer”
A New Year Prayer
Wade Webster
In the long ago, Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psa. 90:12). As we begin a new year, I want us to take a closer look at these wonderful words. I believe that pondering this prayer will help us to have a better year.
A Spiritual Education – “So Teach Us…”
Throughout the Psalms, we find individuals crying out for God to teach them (Psa. 25:4-5, 8-9, 12; 32:8; 27:11; 71:17; 86:11; 119:12, 26, 33, 64, 66, 68, 102, 108, 124, 135; 143:10). Teach means “to instruct” (3045; cf. Prov. 9:9-11). In Deuteronomy, Moses used the word to refer to parental teaching. We read, “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons: Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deut. 4:9-10). Notice the emphasis upon time. Moses was asking for God, as His Father, to teach Him how to rightly use his time. As you know, children need much instruction when it comes to using the time that they have been given. How many times, have you as a parent told your children to be getting ready to go, only to return some time later to find them unchanged and watching television, or playing a video game? Like our children, we also need much teaching from our Father on how to use our time. Likely, when he comes, some of us won’t be on task.
A Sober Calculation – “To Number Our Days”
It is truly sobering to contemplate the number of “our days.” Do you realize that our days on earth will one day be noted by a small dash between two dates on our tombstone? Long ago, Job declared, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Earlier, he had described man’s days as those of a “hired servant” or day employee (Job 7:1; cf. 7:6; 9:25; Gen. 47:9; Psa. 144:4; Jam. 4:13-14). Number means “to weigh out…to allot or constitute officially…enumerate or enroll…appoint, count…prepare, set, tell” (Strong’s 4487). Earlier in the Psalms, we read, “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Psa. 39:4-5; cf. 89:47; 103:14-15; 119:84).
A Sensible Application – “That We May Apply Our Hearts Unto Wisdom”
Apply means “to come, to go, to bring” (Zodhiates 935). As it is used here, it likely means “to understand” or “to attain.” Thus, Moses is asking for God to teach him that he might be wise in the use of his time. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon often talked about applying one’s heart to wisdom. For example, consider what he wrote in the second chapter: “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:2-6; cf. 22:17; 23:12; Eccl. 7:25; 8:9, 16). When we consider what God has taught us in His word about the number of our days, it will help us to better use our time. To the Colossian saints, Paul wrote, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Col. 4:5; cf. Eph. 5:15-16; Rom. 13:11; John 9:4; Eccl. 9:10).
I hope that this prayer is on our lips as we begin the New Year. Let’s do our best to make the most of this year.
