Just Keeping It Real (Part 11)

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Psalm 90:1-12 – “« A Prayer of Moses the man of God. » Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

(3) Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. (4) For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (5) Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. (6) In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

(7) For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. (8) Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (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.

Introduction

As I have mentioned in the last couple of messages, God continues to deal with me in a particular thematic way, which concerns man’s brief and fleeting time in this world, and his ultimate accountability to his Maker who is God.

Obviously, my spirit is captured by this theme. I often wonder how Noah felt as he continued to preach the same message— “It’s Going to Rain.” God informed Noah that He was planning a time for the destruction of rebellious humanity. Therefore, God instructed Noah to build an ark to save himself, his family, and the animals that he gathered from the wrath to come.

Every being in the ark was secure, but every being outside the ark with the exception of the sea creatures was destroyed. In many ways, this psalm, which is actually “A prayer of Moses,” captures this same message. Because God is God, He does not need anyone’s permission to exercise His will. Nevertheless, God warns man that judgment is coming and it is nearer than most believe.

Now I make no claims of being anything close to Noah, but I am here to tell you that you are on the clock and “You Gon’ Run Out of Time.” And, when you run out of time, “You Goin’ Somewhere.” Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

First, let us consider this Psalm’s title: “A Prayer of Moses the man of God.” This is the only psalm penned by Moses making it the oldest psalm, which we learn is really a prayer. Although the date and occasion is uncertain, many scholars believe it was inspired as a result of the disobedience that occured as recorded in Numbers 13-14. As a result, they wondered in the wilderness for 40 years until the generation that was 20 years old and up died—except Joshua and Caleb.

I wish I had time to talk about Moses, but I don’t. Suffice it to say, Moses played an integral role in the life and experiences of God’s people—Israel. The same Moses that was rescued from the Nile River and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. The same Moses that had to flee Egypt for 40 years because he killed an Egyptian.

The same Moses who had a personal encounter with God on the backside of the Sinai dessert when he went to examine a burning bush that was not being consumed. The same Moses whom God sent back into Egypt to lead His people out of Egypt into The Promised Land via a parting of the Red Sea.

The same Moses who talked with God “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” The same Moses received the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God. The same Moses that wrote the first five books of the Bible. Considering all of this, I submit to you that Moses knew something about God and this prayer reflects both his knowledge and relationship with God.

The Creation (VV. 1-2)

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

Moses begins by acknowledging the loving grace and eternality of God. This answers the question, “where were you before you were born?” Answer: “With God.” As the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee notes, “The word everlasting is figurative in the Hebrew. It means “from the vanishing point to the vanishing point.” God is from the vanishing point in the past and reaches to the vanishing point in eternity future. Just as far as you can see, from vanishing point to vanishing point, He is still God.”

The Creator (VV. 3-11)

(3) Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. (4) For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (5) Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. (6) In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. (7) For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. (8) Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (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.

Here Moses contrasts the power of God with the fragility and tenuousness of man. Notice who is control—God, and who is not—man. It is God that commands, man to return to dust. These clay houses or bodies that we live, move, and have our being were made from dust and to dust they shall return. As Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

Moreover, Moses points out that God exists outside of time and space. A thousand years is a long time to us mortals, but in God’s sight a thousand years are but as yesterday when it is past and and a guard shift in the night. The way time effects humanity is equivalent to grass that springs forth in the morning but is cut down in the evening. Our time is so fleeting that its is like a tale that has already been told. As the Apostle Peter points out in II Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

None but Christ knows the full brunt of God’s wrath. For He tasted death for every believer. The author of Hebrews informs us in Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

As we consider v.12, Moses makes a request of God. Before I discuss the content of his petition God, allow me to say what he did not ask for: He didn’t ask for wealth, long life, popularity, fame or power over his enemies. Instead, this is an intercessory prayer. Moses is praying for teaching for himself and his people.

What a request! Notice that he did not say, “Help me to teach them,” as though he were above it all. But rather, he included himself as one in need and desirous of instruction. Thus he says, “…teach us.”

What is it that Moses is petitioning to teach them and to what purpose? That’s a good question. Allow me to answer it this way. In light of the fact that man is a creature of time and space, and that his life is like a vapor that appears for a moment then vanishes away. In other words, we are running out of time, and we are goin’ somewhere, teach us to number or value our days (time) so that may make wise and righteous choices. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Conclusion

I am convinced that if we really appreciated and embraced our time with the Lord and one another, it would truly transform our worship experience and family relationships. I see it play out time and again at funerals. People express how they wish they had spent more time with their loved one or would have avoided wasting precious time being angry and unforgiving.

Time is precious. Therefore, it is time to set right priorities according to biblical wisdom. It all starts with seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” But you have to come while you still have time on this side of the grave. Because, to be saved from the wrath of God, you need a Savior, and there is only one name that will save--Jesus Christ. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.