Psalm 90 Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Timeless Prayers: Seeking God in Our Fragility
Timeless Prayers: Seeking God in Our Fragility
Bible Passage: Psalm 90
Bible Passage: Psalm 90
Summary: Psalm 90 reflects on the eternal nature of God contrasted with human mortality, serving as a prayer that acknowledges our frailty and dependence on God’s mercy and guidance.
Application: This Psalm teaches us to approach God with humility and honesty about our limitations. In our fast-paced lives marked by uncertainty and stress, we can find solace in understanding that God is our refuge, allowing us to cast our worries and seek His wisdom in our decisions.
Teaching: The sermon emphasizes the significance of prayer as a means to converse with God about our fears, desires, and the reality of life’s brevity. It encourages the congregation to make prayer an integral part of their daily lives, reminding them that God understands our situations and invites us to lay our burdens at His feet.
How this passage could point to Christ: In Psalm 90, we see a foreshadowing of Christ's redemptive work, as He embodies the eternal nature of God—the One who reveals the heart of the Father and bridges the gap between our mortality and God's everlasting presence. Through Christ, we find hope and assurance even in the face of death.
Big Idea: As we pray through life’s uncertainties, we are reminded of our mortality and God’s eternity, which invites us to seek Him more fervently and rely on His unfailing presence.
Recommended Study: Consider exploring commentaries on Psalm 90 in your Logos library to unpack the historical context of Moses' authorship and its liturgical use in Israel. Additionally, examine Hebrew terms for 'duration' and 'mercy' to deepen your understanding of God's nature as eternal and compassionate. Also, look into how different translations of the text influence interpretations of God’s justice and our human frailty.
Read Psalm 90:9-12
9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
In the 19th century, as industrialization spread, people relied heavily on technology, forgetting their own limitations. Yet, when natural disasters like floods or famines struck, it served as a stark reminder of human frailty. This vulnerability pointed towards the eternal character of God, serving as a reminder that while machines can fail, God remains a steadfast refuge during our times of greatest need.
Man has always found some ‘thing’ to place hope or trust in outside of God.
This prayer of Moses’ emphasizes our great need to place our faith and trust in the LORD. It is packed with Theology and lessons learned while both being a student and a leader.
The subtitle along makes this the earliest psalm since it was written by Moses.
Many have debated and tried to discredit that he authored this psalm, but the evidence of the writer is plain for all to see throughout the psalm.
It is also not the first poem or song to have been written by Moses.
In fact, Moses wrote a song in Exodus 15 called the “Song of Moses”.
He further wrote a song to accompany the housing of the book of the Law and the Ark of the Covenant (Duet. 31:30-32:44).
He wrote his blessing of the tribes of Israel before his death in Duet 33 in verse as well.
There are poetical fragments of the song Israel sang as they left their camp carrying the Ark in Num 10:35-36.
35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; And let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.
He wrote an ode to the well at Beer in Numbers 21:17-18
17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; Sing ye unto it: 18 The princes digged the well, The nobles of the people digged it, By the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
and the curse on Heshbon and Moab in Numbers 21:26-30.
26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, Let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath consumed Ar of Moab, And the lords of the high places of Arnon. 29 Woe to thee, Moab! Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: He hath given his sons that escaped, And his daughters, into captivity Unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, And we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, Which reacheth unto Medeba.
Finally parts of the Law itself take on a verse form.
Deut 27:14-26, 28:3-6, 16-19.
So then why is this entitled as a “prayer”?
Because it is all addressed to God.
Many of the psalms are songs of praise, but many are prayers.
In fact, if you were with us through our study on the Life of David, we looked at many of the prayers in Psalms as we went through his life to identify and link those prayers to certain events in his life.
This was composed at a time when a large number of the people were being struck dead as a judgment for sin.
What occasion would this have happened during Moses’ time leading the people of Israel?
There are many instances of God judging Israel for their sin during Moses’ time.
One of the most common beliefs is that God struck them with judgment over murmuring about the diet of manna that God was supplying.
The moment that seems to stick out for the timing of this prayer is Numbers 21, when further murmuring over the food God had provided provoked the LORD to send a plague and venomous snakes.
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
What was their complaint about the bread?
It was “light”.
What does the word light mean in this context?
It means wretched, worthless, or insubstantial.
This is what the children of Israel thought about God’s provisions for them.
If we look at our own lives, we do the same about what the LORD has provided for us.
If we think that we do not have enough we seem to suggest that what God has blessed us with is not substantial or is worthless in comparison to what we think is greater.
The children of Israel thought that the bread in Egypt was much better than what God could provide them.
This moment in Israel’s history seems to stick out as in Num 21:7, they ask Moses’ to pray on behalf of all Israel.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
This is the setting in which we find Moses, it is believed that Psalm 90 is the prayer of Moses from Numbers 21:7.
1. Praising Our Eternal Refuge
1. Praising Our Eternal Refuge
Psalm 90:1-4
Perhaps you could begin by highlighting how Moses calls upon God's eternal nature in verses 1-4, reminding us of God's steadfastness amidst our fleeting lives. With the eternal God as our dwelling place, we stand on a firm foundation. This section invites listeners to reflect on their own transient existence and to seek refuge in the One who is unchanging. Encourage the congregation to lean on God's eternality when faced with life's uncertainties.
Why is knowing that God is eternal important to my faith?
It is the basis of all we believe about the structure of life and creation. It is the very premise in which our faith is founded, on one eternal God who is Three in One, co-equal and co-existent.
How can you apply the concept of seeking God as a refuge in times of personal stress or uncertainty?
For me, it is about knowing that God is able to embrace me in those moments when I have no more strength.
Lately one of the things that my son has done, has helped me in my spiritual walk and prayer time.
My son will walk up to me and cry to be held and say ‘daddy’, as a parent, my heart is moved and yet if my heart can be moved by such a petition from my son, how much more is God’s heart moved by my cry? Yet when I embrace my son, he becomes calm by being embraced in my arms and close to me. So lately I pray that God would embrace me draw me near to Himself so that I might find comfort and rest in Him alone.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
2. Perceiving Our Mortality
2. Perceiving Our Mortality
Psalm 90:5-8
You could explore how verses 5-8 realistically depict the fleeting nature of human life, like grass that springs up and quickly withers. This stark reminder of our vulnerability is not meant to induce despair but to drive us toward God. Discuss how awareness of our mortality should spur us to live purposefully and seek God's wisdom daily. Point to Christ as our hope, who triumphed over death to offer us eternal life.
How does Psalm 90 depict the contrast between God’s eternality and our Mortality?
God is not subject to death, but we as mortal beings are subject to it.
Psalms 90–150: The Lord Reigns Verses 7–11: God’s Sentence on Sinful Beings
Death is not part of a natural process but is a divine judgment. We need to accept this, for it produces that repentance and faith which will lead us home to God. But not all see it that way (v. 11a) and must be taught how to do so.
How can acknowledging our frailty help us to grow spiritually and rely more on God?
It increases our dependency on God and not on ourselves.
How does reflecting on our mortality influence our priorities and decisions in daily life?
3. Pursuing Godly Wisdom
3. Pursuing Godly Wisdom
Psalm 90:9-12
Maybe these verses could be a call to cultivate wisdom. They underscore the brevity and toil of human life, urging us to 'number our days'. Emphasize the importance of living wisely and intentionally, continually seeking God's direction. Encourage your listeners to live each day with an eternal perspective, inspired by Christ who leads us in living a life of purpose that echoes into eternity.
What practical steps can we take to 'number our days' as suggested in Psalm 90:12?
Living with the mindset of eternity.
I have spoken about this before and will not belabor the point more, but it cannot be overstated enough that we must live with eternity in view.
The news today should cause us to be more eternally minded than ever before.
4. Petitioning for Divine Favor
4. Petitioning for Divine Favor
Psalm 90:13-17
Perhaps wrapping up with verses 13-17, you could highlight Moses' plea for God's compassion and favor. These verses celebrate the hope that God’s mercy brings, encouraging us to seek His joy and delight in His everlasting work through us. Invite the congregation to trust in the satisfying presence of God, made possible through Christ's work, which gives our transient lives eternal value and purpose.
The phrase ‘let it repent thee’ could be translate like this:
And have compassion concerning thy servants.
The word used here could mean repent, comfort, or compassion.
Why would we want to be glad for the days that God afflicted us?
It reminds us of God’s goodness towards us.
The truth is that even in the days of our afflictions we can look back and see how God was working to draw us closer to Himself. We can see how God’s hand was working to bless us and not to curse us with plagues.
The story of Joseph from the book of Genesis exemplifies seeing God's goodness after great evil. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph faced many trials, yet ultimately rose to power in Egypt. He later told his brothers, 'What you intended for evil, God meant for good,' illustrating how God can turn suffering into salvation and blessing, demonstrating hope for all who endure similar hardships.
The phrase to ‘establish the work of our hands’ is a call for God to help them to be firm and committed to His work. A desire to be obedient in the times of judgment.
See, Psalm 90 is a prayer of intercession for the God’s people, and if we as God’s people will realize that we must pray for one another it will help each of us in our faith individually.
