70, 80 or 120 - You Choose!

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Dear Friends,

Can I share one of my pet peeves with you?

I have a real problem with the repetition of bible verses that are being taken completely out of context.

This isn't an indictment of the people who do this because they are often just repeating something that they've been taught by a trusted source. I just see a need to break a very dangerous cycle.

Most of us have misquoted someone or taken something out of context at one time or another. However when people repeatedly state that "the bible states so and so" or "The Lord says so and so", and what they're repeating is inaccurate or out of context, they can unknowingly lead another person's faith astray.

Here's an example of what I'm referring to and, a little something to ponder during the week.

Why do so many people die around the ages of 70 - 80?

Could it be because they believe that people are supposed to die at that age?

Have you ever heard someone say:

"Well you know the bible says that man is only promised threescore and 10 (70) years".

or

"Well you know after 70, you're living on borrowed time".

Have you ever wondered if the Christian bible actually says that?

Well it really doesn't. But, for generations many Christians have been quoting, as fact, a bible verse Psalm 90:10 completely out of context.

In the King James Version of the bible the verse reads:

"The days of our years are threescore (60) 2years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore (80) years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

It sounds like man is only promised a lifespan of 70-80 years, right?

Not really.

Here is that same verse in the Amplified Bible (AMP), which is now recognized as a more accurate translation of the original Hebrew text, along with a footnote which places the version in its proper context:

Psalm 90:10

"The days of our years are ^[a]threescore years and ten (seventy years)--or even, if by reason of strength, fourscore years (eighty years); yet is their pride [in additional years] only labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away."

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 90:10 This psalm is credited to Moses, who is interceding with God to remove the curse which made it necessary for every Israelite over twenty years of age (when they rebelled against God at Kadesh-barnea) to die before reaching the promised land (Num. 14:26-35). Moses says most of them are dying at seventy years of age. This number has often been mistaken as a set span of life for all mankind. It was not intended to refer to anyone except those Israelites under the curse during that particular forty years. Seventy years never has been the average span of life for humanity. When Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes, had reached 130 years (Gen. 47:9), he complained that he had not attained to the years of his immediate ancestors. In fact, Moses himself lived to be 120 years old, Aaron 123, Miriam several years older, and Joshua 110 years of age. Note as well that in the Millennium a person dying at 100 will still be thought a child (Isa. 65:20).

You can read this verse in several bible translations at:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2090:10;
&version=31;65;45;51;50;#en-NIV-en-MSG-en-AMP-15389

When you get a chance, read the entire Psalm for yourself.

Then go read Genesis 6:1-3

In the KJV it reads:

"1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."

In the Message version the same verses read as:

" 1-2 When the human race began to increase, with more and more daughters being born, the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful. They looked them over and picked out wives for themselves.

3 Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206:1-3;
&version=45;65;31;50;9;

Again don't take my word for it, read the verses for yourself.

Now if you had to choose a verse to quote why would you choose a verse that offers you a lifespan of 70-80 years rather than one that offers you a lifespan of 120 years?

So why don't people live to to 120? Throughout the bible are numerous references to ways that we can lengthen or shorten our lives, ( check out Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Proverbs to start).

As I've said don't just take my word that this is true. In fact, don't just take anyone's word on what the bible says, Check it out for yourself.

Just a little something to think about.

Now for most of you, I'm preaching to the choir and this message isn't really for you. But if you know someone who might need it, pass it on. You just might help save their life.

Deuteronomy 30:19

"I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live"