when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (Full Version)

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fahey440 -> when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 1:54:51 PM)

Hi,
I am a very new Christian (6 months) and have done the ALPHA course and extra studies at my church, so when my non-Christian brother was asking me basic questions about being a Christian I was very happy to be able to answer all but one question. The question was how come did man live for hundreds of years at first, and then it was reduced to 70years? I found in Genesis where God said man would live to 120 years, but then I couldn't find anything else. i am so desperate to be able to tell my brother as much of the truth as possible so that he too can see the light and accept Jesus into his heart.
I hope that you knowledgeable people out there can help me please.



Little_1 -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 2:04:21 PM)

Biblically, the correct term is 'three-score years and ten' (Psalm 90: 10) suggesting that the normal lifespan in Biblical times was 70 years of age.

Hope this goes some way to helping.



Him4all -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 2:07:58 PM)

fahey440,

The verse you are talking about is here:

PSA 90:10 The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

But something most don't know is the fact that this verse only pertained to the Israelites who were cursed to die in the wilderness. This psalm was written by Moses. People since that time and even today obviously live longer than 70 or 80 years.

Hope this helps.

DR



fahey440 -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 2:14:18 PM)

thank you for the fast replies :)
that does help loads thanks.
So apart from stating the fact, does it say anywhere why God made man live for fewer years?



CherishedbyGod -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 2:21:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: fahey440

thank you for the fast replies :)
that does help loads thanks.
So apart from stating the fact, does it say anywhere why God made man live for fewer years?


I don't know if it says why...But sin is destructive and it might have something to do with an increase in iniquity (sin)...But I am just guessing[&:]



Bluethread -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/28/2008 4:16:43 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Him4all

fahey440,

The verse you are talking about is here:

PSA 90:10 The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

But something most don't know is the fact that this verse only pertained to the Israelites who were cursed to die in the wilderness. This psalm was written by Moses. People since that time and even today obviously live longer than 70 or 80 years.

Hope this helps.

DR
Emphasis Mine

So, I presume these verses only apply to Isreaites too?

Ps 93:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Having just observed Pesach, I was reminded that the ignorant child asks, "Why did they eat bread without hametz(leaven)?" We are to say, "Why do we eat bread without hametz(leaven)?" We are told that we were there with the mixed multitude in thw wilderness. If we expect to recieve the blessings of Israel, we must acknowledge that we are Isreal.

To speak directly to the question, this is a generalization in poetry. It is a bit dangerous to derive doctrine from the Psalms. The purpose of the Psalms and all poetry is to ingrain in us principles that have been explained in detail elsewhere.

Until we began extending our lives through the use of chemicals and invasive surgery our lives were only 70 to 80 years. This is one of the reasons "social security" is in so much trouble. Few people in the early 1900's expected people to live longer than that.

In my opinion, what is being said in this Psalm is that life is short and therefore it is important that we pray to Adonai for His blessing, lest we get what we truly deserve.



Him4all -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/29/2008 1:33:04 PM)

Bluethread,

Scripture can be read literally, symbolicly, and spiritually IMO. And when you don't "rightly divide" the scriptures with that understanding you get into all kinds of problems. One of which is picking out a scripture like you just did and claiming to be an Israelite or a Jew.

I believe there is form and then there is formality there is reality and then there is ritual. I seriously doubt that the form/reality bloodline of all Christians is physically Jewish.

At the same time I believe I am a "true Israelite" after the Spirit and a "true Jew" in my circumcized heart. Having said that I don't feel any compunction to try and drag all the OT formality of feast celebrations into my Christian reality. So we do differ in that regard.

If you enjoyed your Pesach...power to you. I was invited to a Sader and had to tell them:"" I'm not an "ignorant child" interested in dragging OT ritual into NT Christianity. ""

But I do believe in the spiritual reality of those OT rituals and have no problem learning of those realities.

Your opinon of "chemicals and surgery" and the reason for "social security" failing are also way different than my opinon...but enjoy them anyway.

DR



Bluethread -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/29/2008 4:42:05 PM)

quote:

Him4all:
Scripture can be read literally, symbolicly, and spiritually IMO. And when you don't "rightly divide" the scriptures with that understanding you get into all kinds of problems. One of which is picking out a scripture like you just did and claiming to be an Israelite or a Jew.


I did not bring this up and I was reluctant to respond since it is off topic. However, since you denigh the relevance of the passage you brought up, because the "verse only pertained to the Israelites who were cursed to die in the wilderness", I thought it important to look at the context. Also, I was not going to let a statement like that go unchallenged. If you want to discount to "old testiment", there is a forum for that. Here we are discussing, if Adonai has designated a particular lifespan for us.

quote:

Your opinon of "chemicals and surgery" and the reason for "social security" failing are also way different than my opinon...but enjoy them anyway.


All I am saying here is that until some fifty years ago, before the modern medical era, few people expected to live longer than seventy or eighty years and the design of our "social security" system indicates that. I was drawing no other conclusions. Also, I pointed out that the passage was poetic and therefore, the 70/80 reference could just be an estimate and not a rule.



Him4all -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/29/2008 10:32:08 PM)

Bluethread,

quote:

To speak directly to the question, this is a generalization in poetry. It is a bit dangerous to derive doctrine from the Psalms. The purpose of the Psalms and all poetry is to ingrain in us principles that have been explained in detail elsewhere.


No "doctrinal" premise was made by me...only a statement of fact IMO. A fact that pertained to those doomed to die within the 40 year period in the wilderness. That's why verse 12 is another verse wrongly quoted literally, like it is doctrinal fact today. You have no idea how long you can possibly live now, so how can you "number your days"? Those in the wilderness who were above age of 20 knew their days were numbered (Num 14:29). And it was they, who were to read verse 10 'literally'. For it was they who: if they were 20 would only live to the possible age 60 and no more. And those 30 could hope for no more than age 70. And anyone who was 40 Knew they'd never see 81.

quote:

Until we began extending our lives through the use of chemicals and invasive surgery our lives were only 70 to 80 years. This is one of the reasons "social security" is in so much trouble. Few people in the early 1900's expected people to live longer than that.


I'm sorry, but repeating yourself doesn't give your opinion any more validity than it had in the last post. Think about this fact...being limited to a 70 to 80 age limit sure wasn't dependent upon "drugs and chemicals" in 1400 BC when this Psalm was written, so your opinion just lacks the truth of consistency for me. Like I said before, enjoy your opinion. And, as you correctly stated, this is off topic and I am going to drop it.


quote:

However, since you denigh the relevance of the passage

I have not "denied the relevance of the passage"...I have 'defined' the relevance of it...there is a difference. And if you don't see it...or believe it...that's OK. It's probably best for us to just move on. I hope you agree. [:)]

BTW in post #6, your quoted verse address of Ps 93:14 is incorrect also. [8|]

DR



Szaftoo -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/30/2008 11:21:20 AM)

If you look at Gen. 5, it shows people who lived before the flood had an average life span of about 900 years. This life span dropped rapidly and gradually leveled off in Gen. 11. I believe this could have been due to major changes in the environment brought on by the flood.
Though it could be symbolic, Gen. 6:3 shows God reduced man's life because of sin.



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/30/2008 11:35:32 AM)

Why does it matter? Christians have eternal life with God.



Bluethread -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (4/30/2008 2:19:42 PM)

quote:

Szaftoo:
Though it could be symbolic, Gen. 6:3 shows God reduced man's life because of sin.


I was wondering when this verse would come up. This verse could be refering to the flood which reduced the lifespans of all but Noach's family. It could have been a warnig to Noach as to how long He had to get His work done.



rcjames -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (5/2/2008 9:38:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: fahey440

Hi,
I am a very new Christian (6 months) and have done the ALPHA course and extra studies at my church, so when my non-Christian brother was asking me basic questions about being a Christian I was very happy to be able to answer all but one question. The question was how come did man live for hundreds of years at first, and then it was reduced to 70years? I found in Genesis where God said man would live to 120 years, but then I couldn't find anything else. i am so desperate to be able to tell my brother as much of the truth as possible so that he too can see the light and accept Jesus into his heart.
I hope that you knowledgeable people out there can help me please.


I do not think there is a passage that limits the earthly life of a Christian.

Thanks
RC



Lapidoth -> RE: when did God say that people will only live to 70 years old? (5/2/2008 3:18:13 PM)

I agree with RC.

There is no verse dictating a "life span."
For most of us, we die when our job is over.

For some of us, accidents, etc. snuff us out.

The longest life was 969 years (Methusaleh).
Adam lived to be 930 years.

God told Adam that in the "day" that he sinned, he would die.

No man has lived past the "millennial" day. Which is 1,000 years.
A day with the Lord is as a thousand years. (Ps. and Peter)

If you do a chart on lifespans, once sin entered he world,
the life spans declined. There are exceptions, but the over all
life span declined.

After the flood, which would entail environ changes, it dropped drastically.

Coming out of Egypt, those who rebelled all died off.
After 40 years, the ages given in Psalms would indicate the various ages
as they went into the desert and the age they died. (context)
The only ones who entered the Promised Land were Joshua, Caleb, and the
next generation born in the desert.

There are people who live well over 100 today.
There are people who live very short lives today.
There will never be one who lives beyond 1,000 years.
Not until Yeshua returns us to the New State as it once was.

So, the ages of limitation are traditions.



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