Untitled Sermon (2)

Be Exultant (Psalm 90)

This is the oldest psalm in The Psalms and it was written by Moses, the man of God (Josh. 14:6; Ezra 3:2). It deals with themes that began with the fall of our first parents and will continue to be important and puzzling until the return of our Savior: eternal God and frail humans, a holy God and sinful man, life and death, and the meaning of life in a confused and difficult world. It’s possible that Moses wrote this psalm after Israel’s failure of faith at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 13–14), when the nation was condemned to journey in the wilderness for forty years until the older generation had died. That tragedy was followed by the death of Moses’ sister Miriam (Num. 20:1) and his brother Aaron (Num. 20:22–29), and between those two deaths, Moses disobeyed the Lord and struck the rock (Num. 20:2–13). How did Moses manage to become a “man of God” after forty years in pagan Egypt that ended in failure, forty years in Midian as a humble shepherd, and forty more leading a funeral march through the wilderness? Life was not easy for Moses, but he triumphed, and in this psalm he shared his insights so that we, too, might have strength for the journey and end well.We Are Travelers and God Is Our Home (vv. 1–2)“For we are aliens and pilgrims before you, as were our fathers” said King David (1 Chron. 29:12, NKJV). For all mortals, life is a pilgrimage from birth to death, and for believers, it is a journey from earth to heaven, but the road is not an easy one. Jacob called the 130 years of his pilgrimage “few and evil” (Gen. 47:9), and he was a pilgrim to the very end, for he died leaning on the top of his staff (Heb. 11:21). For eighty years, Moses had lived a somewhat settled life, first in Egypt and then in Midian, but after that he spent forty years in the wilderness, leading a nation of complaining former slaves who didn’t always want or appreciate his leadership. Numbers 33 names forty-two different places Israel camped during their journey, but no matter where Moses lived, God was always his home. He “lived in the Lord.” He knew how to “abide in the Lord” and find strength, comfort, encouragement, and help for each day’s demands. Moses pitched a special tent outside the camp where he went to meet the Lord (Ex. 33:7–11). This is the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament admonition, “Abide in me” (see John 15:1–11). We must all make the Lord “our dwelling” (91:9).Moses addressed God as “Elohim,” the God of power and the God of creation. He described God “giving birth” to the mountains (v. 2; Job 15:7; 38:8, 28–29) and forming the world. To people in the ancient world, mountains symbolized that which was lasting and dependable, and to the Jews, mountains spoke of the everlasting God of Israel (93:1–2). There were six generations from Abraham to Moses—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kohath, Amram, and Moses—and the same God had guided and blessed them! Those of us who have godly ancestors certainly have a rich heritage and ought to be thankful. In the midst of a changing world, living as we do in a “frail tent” (2 Cor. 5:1–4), it is good to hear Moses say, “The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27, AMP).We Are Learners and Life Is Our School (vv. 3–12)Moses was “educated in all the learning of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22, NASB), but the lessons he learned walking with God were far more important. In the school of life (v. 12), we need to learn two important lessons: life is brief and passes swiftly (vv. 4–6), so make the most of it; and life is difficult and at times seems futile (vv. 7–11), but this is the only way to mature. Were there no sin in the world, there would be no suffering and death; but people made of dust defy the God of the universe and try to repeal the inexorable law of sin and death, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19, NKJV). While we all thank God for modern science and the ministry of skilled medical personnel, we cannot successfully deny the reality of death or delay it when our time comes. The school of life is preparation for an eternity with God, and without Him, we cannot learn our lessons, pass our tests, and make progress from kindergarten to graduate school!The older we get, the better we understand that life is brief and moves past very swiftly. God dwells in eternity (Isa. 57:15) and is not limited by time. He can cram many years of experience and work into one person’s lifetime or make the centuries flash past like the days of the week (2 Peter 3:8). Compared with eternity, even a long life is like yesterday when it is past or like the changing of the guards while we are sleeping (a “watch” was four hours). Only God is eternal, and we humans are like objects suddenly swept away by a flash flood (Matt. 7:24–27) or grass that comes and goes. In the east, the grass often grows on very thin soil and has no deep roots (Matt. 13:20–21). A field will be lush and green in the morning but become withered before nightfall because of the hot sun. (See 37:1–2; 92:7; 103:15; Isa. 40:6–7; and 1 Peter 1:24.) God is the one whose command “turns us back” (v. 3; see 104:29; 146:4; Job 34:15; Ecc. 3:20), and we need to fear and honor Him and use our lives for His glory. In the school of life, those students learn the most who realize that the dismissal bell rings when they least expect it!In verses 7–11, Moses reflected on Israel’s sad experience at Kedesh Barnea (Num. 13–14), when the nation refused to obey God and enter the Promised Land. This foolish decision led to four decades of trials and testings in the wilderness while the older generation died off, except for Joshua and Caleb. God is “slow to anger” (Ex. 34:6), but the repeated complaints and rebellions of His people tested even His longsuffering. (See Ex. 32:10; Num. 11:11, 33; 12:9; 25:3; 32:10, 13; Deut. 4:24–25; 6:15; 9:7, 18–19.) God saw what Israel did and God knew what Israel intended to do! No secrets are hidden from Him. The twenty-year-olds would be close to sixty when the nation returned to Kadesh Barnea, and Moses saw eighty years as the limit for humans. He died at 120 and Joshua at 110, but King David was only 70 when he died. Sin takes its toll on the human race, and we no longer see lifespans recorded like those in Genesis 5. We don’t like to think about the wrath of God, but every obituary in the newspaper is a reminder that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We finish our years “like a sigh” (v. 9, NASB). and marvel that it all went by so fast! So, now is the time to ask God for wisdom to become better students and stewards of our time and opportunities (v. 12; Deut. 32:29). We number our years, not our days, but all of us have to live a day at a time, and we do not know how many days we have left. A successful life is composed of successful days that honor the Lord.We Are Believers and the Future Is Our Friend (vv. 13–17)Yes, life is a difficult school, and God disciplines us if we fail to learn our lessons and submit to His will, but there is more to the story. In spite of the “black border” around this psalm, the emphasis is on life and not death. The past and present experiences of life prepare us for the future, and all of life prepares us for eternity. When you contrast verses 13–17 with verses. 7–12, you can see the difference. This closing prayer emphasizes God’s compassion and unfailing love, His desire to give us joy and satisfaction, even in the midst of life’s troubles, and His ability to make life count for eternity. When Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, the future is your friend.“Return” (v. 13) carries the idea of “turn again—turn from your anger and show us the light of your countenance” (Ex. 32:12; Num. 6:23–26; Deut. 32:36). “How long?” is a question frequently asked; see 6:3. In verse 14, Moses may have been referring to the manna that fell each morning, six days a week, and met the physical needs of the people (Ex. 16:1–21). It was a picture of Jesus Christ, the bread of life. The manna sustained life for the Jewish people for nearly forty years, but Jesus gives life to the whole world for all eternity! When we begin the day with the Lord and feed on His Word (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4), then we walk with Him throughout the day and enjoy His blessing. The nourishment of the Word enables us to be faithful pilgrims and successful learners.There are compensations in life that we may not appreciate until we enter eternity. Moses prayed that God would give him and his people as much joy in the future as the sorrow they had experienced in the past. Paul may have had this in mind when he wrote Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 1:5 and 4:16–18—except that God promises His children far more blessing than the burdens they carried! The glory to come far exceeds the suffering that we bear today. Moses lost his temper and could not enter Canaan (Num. 20:2–13), but he did get to the Promised Land with Jesus and share God’s glory with Elijah and three of the disciples (Matt. 17:1–8).Whatever the Lord doesn’t compensate for here on earth will be compensated in heaven (1 Peter 5:10), and this includes our works for Him. At times, Moses must have felt that his work was futile, temporary, and not worth doing. Many times the people broke his heart and grieved his spirit. He sacrificed to serve them and they rarely appreciated him. But no work done for the Lord will ever go unrewarded, and those who do the will of God abide forever (1 John 2:17). Even a cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name will receive its reward (Matt. 10:42; 25:31–46). The favor of the Lord does not desert us in our old age, in times of affliction, or when we come to die, and the blessings of our work and witness will go on. In verse 13, Moses addressed God as Jehovah, the God of the covenant who will never break His promises, and that is the God we love, worship, and serve.Life is brief, so Moses prayed, “Teach us.” Life is difficult, and he prayed, “Satisfy us.” His work at times seemed futile, so he prayed, “Establish the work of our hands.” God answered those prayers for Moses, and He will answer them for us. The future is your friend when Jesus is your Savior and Lord.

Thru the Bible Vol. 19: Poetry (Psalms 90–150) Psalm 90

PSALM 90

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THEME: The prayer of Moses

The setting for this psalm is out there on the desert during Israel’s wanderings. You recall that when the people of Israel came from the bondage of Egypt, they were led first to Mount Sinai where God gave them the Law. Then they went up to enter the Promised Land; but, instead of entering it, they turned back to that frightful desert. For thirty–eight years they wandered in the desert—until that generation died. Moses saw a lot of people die—over two million of them—and his psalm is the psalm of death.

To me it is a remarkable psalm. It was Martin Luther who wrote: “Just as Moses acts in teaching the law, so does he in this Psalm. For he preaches death, sin and condemnation, in order that he may alarm the proud who are secure in their sins, and that he may set before their eyes their sin and evil.” My friend, that is the teaching of this psalm.

Notice how majestic and sublime it is as it opens:

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God [Ps. 90:1–2].

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. How majestic is this thought! Man is just one of God’s creatures, an offspring, as it were. In the Book of Genesis Moses wrote, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:27). Then in Genesis 2:7 Moses said, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This psalm regards man as a created being, not as an evolved animal. He is a creature in a class by himself. He has a body that was taken from the ground, a body by which he is going to earn his living down here by the sweat of his brow until the day comes when it returns to the dust out of which God created it. That’s the picture of man.

Thou turnest man to destruction: and sayest, Return, ye children of men [Ps. 90:3].

God returns man’s frail body to the dust, saying, “Go back to where you came from.”

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night [Ps. 90:4].

Suppose, my friend, you live as long as Methuselah lived—almost a thousand years—that would be like just a watch in the night. It would be like the flight of a bird through a lighted room, coming out of the darkness through one window and going out another window into the darkness again. Even if you could live one thousand years, you wouldn’t be very much. Life is so brief compared to eternity.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth [Ps. 90:5–6].

This is a picture of man. In the wilderness Moses saw over one million people die. He probably attended more funerals than anyone else. Man’s body was taken from the ground, and Moses saw that body put back into the ground from which it had come.

This leads me to another subject. I have received several letters asking me what I think about cremation. I do not believe in cremation. I don’t mean that God cannot raise up your body if you are cremated, but cremation is not a good testimony for a believer. Many unbelievers in Southern California want to be cremated and have their ashes scattered over the ocean. I knew an undertaker in Pasadena who was a pilot. He told me that many people wanted their ashes scattered over the ocean, and that was one of the services he provided. What is the motive of folk who want to be cremated and their ashes scattered over the ocean? Many of them don’t want their bodies resurrected; they think that God will not be able to get their bodies back together again.

Christian friend, you give a testimony when you take your dead loved one who is in Christ and you bury him in the ground. In John 12:24 the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” This is the picture of the Lord’s death and resurrection. When you bury your loved one, you are planting that body, expecting his resurrection some day. In the early days the cemetary was called two things: (1) an inn, a place where people sleep for a time, and (2) a field, a place where seed is planted. You do not burn up your seed! When you bury your dead, you are planting seed. Your testimony is that you believe God meant what He said when He promised resurrection, and you are looking forward to being reunited with that loved one some day.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance [Ps. 90:8].

Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer used to say that secret sin on earth is open scandal in heaven. The angels are watching you; they see what you do down here.

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told [Ps. 90:9].

In the Hebrew this verse is figurative: “We spend our years as a moan.” We go through life moaning. If you do not know the Savior today and have no hope for eternity, you just don’t have anything to live for, do you? You don’t have purpose in life or any direction.

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 [Ps. 90:10].

Threescore years and ten is seventy years. Fourscore years is eighty years. If you make it to eighty years, you sure are going to have a lot of rheumatism and arthritis. I am finding this to be true already. What a picture this gives of us down here! If you live for eighty years, it is going to be uphill all the way. We talk about coming to the “sunset” of life, but that is when you start going uphill, not downhill. We just pass our days as a moan. It is well to have a future, and that is what the believer has when he puts his faith in Christ.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom [Ps. 90:12].

It is Christ who is made unto us wisdom. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). If you have Christ, you have wisdom and hope.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it [Ps. 90:17].

Oh, to do something in this life that will have value in eternity!

My friend, Moses out there in the desert, pausing day after day in the wilderness march to bury someone, got a perspective on life that many of us do not have. What a beautiful and practical psalm this is!