A year ago, hundreds of people were dying from COVID-19 every day, often alone, often on ventilators. We remember and mourn their loss. Perhaps we think most about our own mortality when a tragedy like a pandemic comes, or when we attend a funeral or memorial service. Psalm 139 teaches that the day of our death is determined before we are born, and that the gift of life has a expiration date. Planned obsolescence so to speak. It is time to think about our legacy, and to understand, that indeed, we have an expiration date.
MY PSALM 326 MORTALITY
Abba, Father, God of creation, Lover of our souls,
You have known us eternally
And formed us according to Your purpose
To live in this time and place.
Your Psalm 139 tells us
That even as we were being formed in the womb
You knew the time of our death.
Your infinite plan for us.
You even number our hairs.
Why then, does mankind long to do as He pleases
When You have created us for Your purposes?
“So teach us to number our days that we may
Get a heart of wisdom.”[1]
From the moment of Adam’s sin
Man has feared death.
But through Christ’s resurrection
Your saints look forward to our homecoming time
To spend eternity in Your Presence
Where there will be no more tears.
Your word is clear. I am precious in Your sight.
“You have kept count of my tossings;
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not recorded in your book?[2]
Then my enemies will turn back
In the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
In the LORD, whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
We know You lead us in the valley[3]
Of the shadow of death,
That You shepherd us through this life
And beyond.
What then, is there to fear?
And Your word tells us that
“Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.” [4]
We thank You Lord
For Your grace and mercy
For the comfort You provide
As we face our own death
And suffer the loss of others to death.
We believe Your promises
And thank You for the atoning work
Of Your Son, Jesus
In showing us life to come. Amen.
[1] Psalm 90: 12
[2] Psalm 56: 8
[3] Psalm 23
[4] Psalm 116: 15
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