A Word Of Encouragement – Psalm 90
Associate Pastor Cole Parleir
Focus: The eternal God will eternally establish you and your work as you gain his wisdom by learning to number your days in light of him.
Moses The Man of God
Psalm 90
Eternal Wisdom in Christ
Context
What are the Psalms
A collection over many years of poems, prayers and laments meant to be sung or spoken to God as listener by His people individually and in groups.
Psalms is Israel’s book of worship to guide them from generation to generation.
Psalm 90 is the beginning of “Book Four” (Psalm 90-106)
Our modern Bible group the collections in several ways with the main way being five ‘books’. This is a reminder of the five books of the Torah.
Psalm 90 is a corporate lament psalm
Who wrote it?
Attributed to “…Moses, the man of God”
When was it written?
Most likely during the wilderness experience and maybe around the time of Numbers 14. Some commentators believe Moses could have written it for the Israelites to use daily as a devotional.
Different titles in each translation (not scriptures, but added later)
“From Everlasting to Everlasting” ESV
“God’s Eternity and Man’s Transitoriness” AMP
“God’s Eternity and Human Frailty” LEB
Scripture calls it “A prayer of Moses, the man of God”
The only Psalm attributed to Moses
This makes it the oldest Psalm
Why is Moses called “the man of God”?
Moses was known as God’s servant, God’s prophet, and as one who spoke with God ‘face to face’
Submission led to intimacy
It’s a prayer, a lament, petition and also wisdom literature
Why a prayer? Because it’s addressed to God.
‘O LORD, you…’
Why a lament?
Expression of sorrow and regret of their sinfulness that is just cause for God’s wrath
Why petition?
Vs 12-17 are requests according to God’s character and promises.
Why wisdom literature?
It teaches us how to live in obedience to God stewarding his favor.
Moses the Man of God
Raised for 3 months in his fathers house
At 3 months old he was “exposed”, abandoned to die due to royal edict.
The kings daughter found him and adopted him.
He was raised and educated as Egyptian royalty.
At age 40 he revisited his Israelite heritage, killed an Egyptian who mistreated an Israelite in his sight. The next day he was accused of murder and ran away.
0-3 months infant in earthy fathers house
3 months - 40 years young man in adopted house
40-80 years old middle aged man in father in laws house
80-120 years old Man of God in his Heavenly Fathers presence…yet this was the wilderness
Home is where God’s manifest presence is: bush, staff, cloud, fire, mountain, tabernacle, temple, church, heart, heaven
Moses’ had been “exposed” his whole life. He felt vulnerable and rejected by people. He learned by necessity to not hope in what is seen.
Faith
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.11.1-3.ESV
God’s dwelling
““Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’”
Acts 7:44-50 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.7.44-50.ESV
Psalm 90
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
Psalm 90:1-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.90.1-17.ESV
Verse by verse
God is man’s Help, dwelling place, den, refuge for all generations.
den (1), dwelling (3), dwelling place (4), habitation (6), haunt (4).
habitation (noun) ·habitations (plural noun) the state or process of living in a particular place:
God is creator and supersedes all you see. He was before creation and will remain after creation.
God made man and ends man. He gives life and there is no life apart from him. Without his life we are “dirt bags”. Hebrew word ‘dakka’ means ‘something crushed’ and is not the same as Genesis 2.
How long is a watch in the night? 3 hours for 4 watches make a night watch: 6pm to 6am. God is outside of time as he is eternal. This attribute makes him a place of refuge for mortal temporal man.
Contrasting the eternity of God and the brevity or frailty of man. Noah and the flood as judgement on sinful humanity. Active destruction and wrath.
Contrasting the eternity of God and the brevity or frailty of man. the
Human death is a result of God’s anger and wrath on sin. This is terrifying because there is no human solution to sin which is an eternal problem. Humanity is frail yet accountable to God.
God will not and cannot overlook sin. This life is a wilderness that exposes our hearts. It is ever before his face which means it defines our relationship with him. It’s always in the middle. Nothing is hidden. Judgement on sin is the main cause of mortality rather than natural order.
“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.4.13.ESV
Sin causes us to live lives of futility rather than fruitfulness. God’s wrath is not only reserved for the final judgement, but is ongoing toward the rebellious and building up until the final day of judgement.
Even in our strongest attempts to extend human life it will fall short of the eternal life God intended us for. The Pride of life will not submit to God as the giver and taker of life. This pride does not recognize his holiness nor the reality of sin. This is the first mention in Psalms of a purely natural life span.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.2.15-17.ESV
Until we recognize and surrender to God as holy we will not have the fear due him and cannot except the life he has for us.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Learning to number our days as one who is under his wrath because of sin is the beginning of wisdom that leads to eternal life.
Fear of the Lord leads to cries for help to him alone for only he can deliver us from himself.
The fear of the everlasting God will lead us to his everlasting love (chessed - Hebrew for loyal love) for found in the cross of Jesus Christ. God incarnate who took his own wrath on sin by taking our sin on himself. The cross is our refuge and dwelling place this side of eternity.
“who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but you have turned back now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:24-25 LEB
https://bible.com/bible/90/1pe.2.24-25.LEB
Those who know this ‘chessed’ love of God in Jesus Christ do not wither like the grass, but sing praise and are glad being able to face the troubles of the day.
God’s anger is for a moment because he has provided help for sin.
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 ESV
This is a prayer for the next generation, their children to know God’s mercy and love.
As you walk with God invite your children into it. As you learn God’s word teach it to your children.
This is a petition for God to do what he said he would do when they do what he commands: that he will bless their obedience to his commands.
“I know everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it, for God so acts that humans might stand in awe before him. What is—it already was, and what will be—it already is, for God will do what he has done.”
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 LEB
Eternal Wisdom In Christ
We must learn to number our days in view of spending eternity with the holy and living God. When we do we will be in awe of God and will recognize his power along with our frailty and sinfulness. He becomes to us Jehovah-Jireh, meaning “the Lord will provide.”
“So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.””
Genesis 22:14 ESV
God in his eternal wisdom, power, and love for humanity has provided for us. He sent his one and only Son Jesus Christ to the cross on the hill of Calvary to satisfy his wrath on sin. By repentance and faith in Christ we are reconciled to God and walk with him again.
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV
By repentance from dead works and faith in God’s wisdom of the cross of Christ for our forgiveness and new life, we can begin to number our days. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can lead a life of wisdom obeying God that he may establish the work of our hands because it is His work in us and through us.
Life on earth is short. Eternity is long. Live for eternity by trusting in Jesus Christ.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher