The Prayer of Moses

Some reminders on returning to the Psalms

If I had but one OT book from which to preach, it would be the Psalms

From it we can springboard to history, anthropology, theology proper, soteriology, hamartiology—a lot of “-ologies”

...we can flow from it into the entire counsel of the Word of God

A collection of individual songs or poems—not chapters— but specific, generally stand-alone works

A Note on Typography

English Standard Version Psalm 90

From Everlasting to Everlasting

The bold type is an editor’s addition to the text—it is NOT to be understood as inspired, but as a helpful hint

Not without some drawbacks, but it’s generally helpful

The number is the specific Psalm, for reference purposes; this numbering system may date back as far as 1000 BC, at least 500 BC, as opposed to the remainder of the Bible, in which it was done much later

You may encounter Bibles with the Psalms numbered a bit differently; that is a result of the Septuagint having a slightly different breakdown than the Masoretic Text; a few translations lean to the LXX

Most editions, from the KJV onward, follow the Masoretic text, but there are some exceptions

The superscription, generally in a contrasting font or type, is considered as part of the inspired text

In an Aramaic translation the Targum—something of an early “Amplified Bible” with some commentary, dated around 600 AD, this superscription is enhanced to read “A prayer of Moses the prophet, when the people of Israel sinned in the desert”

This makes sense in that there are allusions within the text to the Exodus 32 and Deuteronomy 32 & 33

Then come the verses, numbered; the Jewish understanding of the verses my be different as they may consider the superscription as the first verse; so our verse #1 becomes their verse #2

Psalm 90 is considered a Psalm of corporate lament— a way of making a complaint to God,

It is more than a mindless, wandering rant—as we see so much of today

It does state a complaint, but in a respectful way

Psalms of lament generally end with acknowledgement of God’s grace and/or giving Glory to God

Assuming it was written by Moses, it dates back to 14th or 13th century BC—most likely the earliest of the Psalms put into writing (leaving open the possibility that others reflect oral traditions that may have been handed down through the generations)

Also, it may be reflective of Israel’s repeated failures in staying true to the God who brought them out of slavery and was taking them to the promised land

Preachers, writers, poets and song-writers have all lent their own twist to this Psalm, generally focusing on one aspect of the Psalm and applying it to the situations of their day

As we open this summer’s venture into the Psalms we will examine the security we have in God, the sovereignty we see in God, our need for submission to God, and satisfaction we receive from God

In many ways this will be a lesson in the doctrine of God: who He is, all He is, the power He holds

It will be a message with “running application” wrapping up with a challenge in the “submission” component

Security

...we have in God...all set-up for us in vv. 1-2

Setting the context as toward the end of the 40 years of wandering—the most likely scenario, Moses can see that God has been overseeing all of the process

Others among the psalmists have made similar observations, e.g.,

Psalm 71:3 ESV

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Moses sets this concept in place, the later psalmists leaned into it repeatedly—Psalms of David use the thought quite often

He cites the eternality of God in v. 2 Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Within this, the ideas of God’s concepts of time—not that it is of no importance to Him, he regards it differently

Running Application:

As we look through the Scriptures, beginning at the Psalms of the OT—without delving too far into the histories and prophesies—we see a pattern of God continual providence for His people in particular, and mankind in general

There is a consistency, an immovability we see in God that is nothing, and no ONE else

It makes us take note of

Sovereignty

...we see of God…maybe we need to define that this morning: Biblical teaching that God possesses all power and is the ruler of all things...rules and works according to His eternal purpose, even through events that seem to contradict or oppose His rule. (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

We could branch into a full discussion of God’s attributes, but won’t...merely mentioning a few of them, showing how they work together in this Psalm

We have already noted His eternality

Justice

We see the tie between justice and wrath in v.7

A recognition of the fact that mankind is sinful and each member of our race continues to sin

...and we are righteously subject to the wrath of God

Our impending deaths are a result of that first sin of mankind!

Our lives are short...and filled with discomforts (even the most joyous lives have troubles)

This shows up in may aspects of this prayer, primarily the realities of our brief and troubled lives

We return to dust (from dust), are days are brief—all as a result of Adam’s sin in the Garden

The situation the Israelite nation was in—40 years of wandering before the conquest would begin, was part of this continuing effect of sin

It was tempered by two other attributes of God

Grace and Mercy

His nature is that He is both gracious and merciful

Grace is the giving of something good that is undeserved

Mercy is the withholding of something bad that is deserved

Throughout the history of the nation to that point, God has shown both

As for grace:

God had chosen Israel to be His people...a people set apart to Him and for Him

He promised them blessing, that through Abraham’s offspring all the people of the world would be blessed

As for mercy:

Many times in the years leading up to the 40 year of wandering, and during it, God had withheld or halted judgment

They grumbled when they had stood at the Red Sea—doubting God’s deliverance

They built an idol—the golden calf—at Sinai

Moses interceded and God relented of His righteous wrath and did not destroy the people

Omniscience

He knows our sin, v. 8; it cannot be hidden

Here’s where His justice, mercy and grace all come together in glorious fashion

Running Application:

This will be a review to those who took the Failure to Freedom classes

God would have been absolutely within His right to fully destroy the people

They had failed to keep up their portion of the covenants

...but He applied mercy and offered grace

Just like Israelite nation, we continue to sin

Unlike them, we don’t have Moses, we have something...someONE...better than Moses: Jesus Christ

From chapter 3 of Hebrews onward, the writer of that letter outlines how—though Moses did great things for God’s people, Jesus was better than Moses

Moses made sacrifices and interceded for the nation of Israel

Jesus WAS the sacrifice that brought forgiveness to all mankind

All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

This is both the grace—undeserved favor—we did nothing to gain our salvation, and

It is mercy, having the wrath of God withheld John 3 17-18

John 3:17–18 ESV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

All that happened to the Israelites, all God did for them, the mercy and grace He displayed, foreshadowed the work of Christ on the Cross

Now we begin to see the resolution to the lament, first in our...

Submission

...our need to be in submission to God

We look to vv, 12-13, the concept of numbering our days, receiving wisdom—Prov 1 7a

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We also have the NT concept of making good use of time—”redeeming the time” Eph 5 16

Ephesians 5:16 ESV

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

being patient for God to act,

Our NT, statement on that is 2 Peter 3 9

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Looking again to Peter’s writing, 1 Peter 5 6-7

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

All of which brings us to the...

Satisfaction

...we receive from God found in the final 2 verses

We do get to see God’s work...

We have the glorious creation He gave us

We get to see the power of God displayed in our lives and in the lives of other...whether in grand form in more subtle form...

...and we get to see him bless our work...again, whether in grand or subtle ways

Summary

...of the prayer