Show Don't Tell: Psalm 90

Instead of saying "Human life is brief compared to God's eternity," count the years. A prayer of Moses the man of God—Book 4 begins, the only psalm attributed to Moses. "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Before mountains—God. "You turn people back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, you mortals.' A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night." Thousand years = one day = four-hour night watch. "You sweep people away in the sleep of death—they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered." Grass that grows and dies in a day. "We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." Secret sins visible. "All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 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." Seventy or eighty years—a moan, then flight. "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." The central petition—count the days, gain wisdom. "Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days... May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands."