Numbering Our Days
When Pastor Paul left for his sabbatical he asked me if I could fill in to write a couple Discipleship Weekly’s while he was gone. I agreed. Having not devoted much time to what topic I would write on this week I am indebted to Tephany Martin for this writing prompt that she observed from my life circumstances this past Tuesday: A 38-year-old man who had just left a birthday celebration of his 13-year-old son, to attend the funeral of a 97-year-old woman.
Tuesday morning, I woke up early with my wife to prepare breakfast to celebrate the life of our son. Family birthday breakfasts have become somewhat of a tradition in the Turner household and I had to leave early to attend a funeral out of town, so our “birthday breakfast” began at 6:15am. Even though it was early the kids all woke up relatively excited for the meal/celebration. We thanked the Lord for our son and enjoyed breakfast together. Afterwards we gave him birthday gifts and then I said goodbye and joined Pastor Joe and Pastor Boo to drive up to attend the funeral service for Pastor John’s mother.
The funeral was for Mary Louise (Yost) Mohler Perkins, who departed to be with our Lord on February 28th, 2024. As her sons paid tribute to the Lord for their mother, and honored her memory, I looked around and admired all the people who came to this small country church because they either knew Mary or her family. The funeral was standing room only. She clearly exemplified Proverbs 31:28, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” While the family was sad, you could also sense a deep gratitude to the Lord for blessing them with a dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
After the service we traveled back to Beavercreek. We enjoyed great fellowship in the car on the way up and back down, but when I returned, I was greeted by the excitement of young children that dad had returned (I’m still enjoying that as I know it will be gone at some point). We enjoyed dinner together, played one of the games my son received for his birthday, and after the younger ones went to bed my son and I started watching Lord of the Rings (his birthday request). What does all this have to do with following Jesus?
The connection can be found in Psalm 90. The psalm has a phrase in it that people often use as a proverb, “teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” but within the context there is something greater being proclaimed to God’s people. Psalm 90:1-2 proclaims the greatness of God, “before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Then Moses proclaims the sovereignty of God over man, creation, and time. Psalm 90:3-6 says, “You return man to dust…For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past…” Moses continues to articulate to our God’s omniscience in relation to man’s sinfulness, “you have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.” In Psalm 90:8-11 Moses asks the question, “who really considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?” The implied answer is “No one.”
So, if you are tracking Moses’ prayer, it begins with God is greater than we can imagine, we are smaller than we imagine, He knows all of our sins, and we don’t fear Him as we ought. It is in light of these realities that the psalmist asks God to do something that he (Moses) is incapable of doing: number his days that he may gain a heart of wisdom. It’s the realization that in comparison to eternity, our life is but a breath. But this is not all that Moses requests. He requests the following of the Lord:
Teach us to number our days.
Have pity on us.
Satisfy us.
Make us glad.
Let your work be shown to us.
Let your favor be upon us.
Establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:12-17
At Mary Louise (Yost) Mohler Perkins’ funeral I got to hear testimonies of a sister in Christ who depended on the Lord and not on her own understanding. God’s Word was her food. She planted herself by streams of living water and her life bore fruit. It was humbling to return home and reflect upon my life, yet instead of being discouraged by all the ways I am not like Mary, I was encouraged that Mary’s faithful steadfast God is mine as well. The same God who taught her, pitied her, satisfied her, placed his favor upon her, and established the work of her hands is my God as well, and the God of my son. It was a privilege to celebrate both of those lives on Tuesday, and a needed reminder of God’s faithfulness. May you be encouraged as well.
Persevere, Joey Turner Pastor of Student Ministry