Sunday
Morning Bible Study
February 1, 2004
Psalm 90 – The Wisdom of Faith
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
Written by Moses, this is the oldest of the Psalms.
If we look at the life of Moses, I think we can pinpoint a time when this
Psalm may have been written. I believe it’s very likely that this song was
written some time after the events that took place in Numbers 13-14.
The children of Israel
had been delivered out of Egypt.
At first God took them to Mount Sinai, where they
received God’s Laws. The nation of slaves was being transformed into an
organized army. Then God took them to Kadeshbarnea, right up to the doorway of
the Promised Land. God instructed them to send twelve spies into the land to
check it out and report back to the people. They were to check out the
inhabitants of the land and see what kinds of cities they would be up against. They
were to see how fruitful the land was, bringing back samples of the fruit of
the land. God wanted the people to know what was ahead of them.
(Num 13:25-33 KJV) And
they returned from searching of the land after forty days. {26} And they went
and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of
Israel,
unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and
unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. {27} And they
told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely
it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. {28} Nevertheless
the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and
very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. {29} The Amalekites
dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the
Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by
the coast of Jordan.
{30} And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once,
and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. {31} But the men that went
up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are
stronger than we. {32} And they brought up an evil report of the land which
they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which
we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof;
and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. {33} And there
we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in
our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
(Num 14 KJV) And all the
congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
{2} And all the children of Israel
murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto
them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God
we had died in this wilderness! {3} And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto
this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a
prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
{4} And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into
Egypt.
The purpose of the spies report was to prepare the people for what was
ahead of them. It wasn’t supposed to be an excuse to turn back.
Remember that these were people who had seen God deliver them through
miracles in Egypt.
They had seen the Red Sea parted. They had been led by a
pillar of cloud and fire.
Difficulties shouldn’t make us turn back. Difficulties should only make us
trust God even more.
{5} Then Moses and Aaron
fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children
of Israel.
{6} And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of
them that searched the land, rent their clothes: {7} And they spake unto all
the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. {8} If the LORD delight in us,
then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with
milk and honey. {9} Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the
people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from
them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. {10} But all the congregation
bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the
tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
{11} And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and
how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed
among them? {12} I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them,
and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
God was frustrated with the Israelites. He suggested that He might wipe out
the people and just start over with Moses. But Moses pleaded with God for mercy
on the people, and God promised not to wipe the nation out completely.
{skip to :26} And the
LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, {27} How long shall I bear with
this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of
the children of Israel,
which they murmur against me. {28} Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the
LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: {29} Your carcases
shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to
your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured
against me, {30} Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I
sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua
the son of Nun. {31} But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them
will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. {32} But
as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. {33} And your
children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms,
until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. {34} After the number of the
days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall
ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of
promise. {35} I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil
congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they
shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
The people would wander for forty years. The entire generation of adults
who had not trusted the Lord would pass away before the nation would enter the
Promised Land.
Why didn’t they make it into the Promised Land?
(Heb 3:19
KJV) So we see that they could not enter
in because of unbelief.
What will you do when God asks you to take on something bigger than you?
It’s a wise thing to learn to trust God.
:1-6 God is eternal, man is not
:1 LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
dwelling place – ma‘own –
dwelling, habitation, refuge – a place of safety
Lesson
Our safety is in God.
What are you counting on for security?
For some people it’s having a nice income with a secure, well-paying job. Others find security in their retirement
accounts. Others find security by keeping
a baseball bat or gun near by.
Illustration
Safe Driver
A woman in her eighties was determined she would keep driving. Naturally
her family was concerned about her slower reflexes. She would go out at night
alone, so they were disturbed about her safety. They told her about muggings,
kidnappings, and carjackings. They thought that it would keep her at home. But
it didn’t. Instead, she went out and bought a gun - a .38 special. She didn’t
know a thing about handling a gun, but she loaded it up and shoved it in her
purse. She decided she would use it if someone gave her problems. Well, she was
walking out of this store during the Christmas season with her packages. She
looks over and sees these three guys in the car and they’re slammin’ the door.
She thinks, “This is my moment:” So she reaches in her purse, pulls out her
gun, walks right up to the car window and says, “Get out of my car! Get away
from behind that steering wheel! You guys, move!” Three guys got out and ran in
three different directions. By now a crowd had gathered and they were staring
at her and smiling. She was feeling pretty proud of herself. So she put her gun
in her purse and got her keys out and the keys didn’t fit. It wasn’t her car.
Illustration
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE...
Do NOT ride in automobiles: they cause 20% of all fatal accidents. Do NOT
stay home: 17% of all accidents do occur in the home. Do NOT walk on the
streets or sidewalks: 14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians. Do NOT travel
by air, rail, or water: 16% of all accidents happen on these. Only .001% of all
deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are related to previous
physical disorders. Hence, the safest place for you to be at any time is
church. Go to church! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!
God is our refuge. You are safest when you are trusting in Him. In church. J
:3 Thou turnest man to destruction
destruction – dakka’ –
dust
(Psa 90:3 NLT) You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return
to dust!"
This was a result of Adam’s sin:
(Gen 3:19
KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the
ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt
thou return.
God is eternal. Man is not.
God is eternal because He has always existed. If you went back in time ten
thousand years, God was there. If you went back in time 100,000 years, God was
there. If you went back a million years, God was there. He has always existed,
He will always exist.
Man is immortal, but not eternal. Man has not always existed. But man was
created with a soul that will never die.
Even after a man’s physical body ceases to function, the man’s soul will
continue to exist.
At death, those who believe in Jesus will go immediately into God’s
presence. Those who do not believe in Jesus will go immediately to hell.
:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past
(Psa 90:4 NLT) For you, a
thousand years are as yesterday! They are like a few hours!
God lives outside our dimension of time. A thousand years to God is like a
day to us.
:5-6 …as with a flood…as a sleep …grass cut down
flood – man’s life is like a brief flash flood that quickly dries
up.
sleep – man’s life is like a brief nap, you wake up and it’s over.
grass – man’s life is like grass that pops up one day and is cut
down the next.
:7-12 Man’s sin, living wisely
:7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
This was true of the children of Israel,
who had tested God and seen His wrath.
Without Jesus, this is true of every person. But for those of us who have
put our trust in Jesus, we should not be troubled about the wrath of God. Paul
wrote,
(1 Th 5:9 KJV) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins …
(Psa 90:8 NLT) You spread out our sins before you-- our secret
sins--and you see them all.
Lesson
God knows your sin
(Heb 4:13
KJV) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Ezekiel was a prophet. God showed him things. Even though he was in Babylon
with the captives, God showed him things that were going on in Jerusalem,
hundreds of miles away.
(Ezek 8:5-12 KJV) Then
said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north.
So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the
gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
There apparently had been some idol set up in the Temple.
{6} He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they
do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel
committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet
again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. {7} And he brought me to the
door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
I can’t help but think that God is taking Ezekiel into a
tour of the minds of the leaders.
{8} Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when
I had digged in the wall, behold a door. {9} And he said unto me, Go in, and
behold the wicked abominations that they do here. {10} So I went in and saw;
and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the
idols of the house of Israel,
portrayed upon the wall round about.
Pictures of forbidden things filled the walls, perhaps the
minds of these men.
{11} And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the
house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,
with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
Seventy men – this is the number of elders, what would be
known as the Sanhedrin. The censers and incense would indicate these men are
praying. Perhaps this is why God is showing this to Ezekiel.
{12} Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the
ancients of the house of Israel
do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The
LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
These men thought that God didn’t see the things they were
doing. Perhaps they didn’t realize that God knows our very thoughts.
There is nothing hidden from God.
We try and hide our sin from other people because we are
ashamed. But God sees.
Help doesn’t come until you stop hiding. Help doesn’t come
until you start admitting to God that you need help. With some sins, I’ve been
finding that help doesn’t come until you confess your sin to another person and
ask for help.
:9 we spend our years as a tale that is told.
tale – hegeh – a rumbling,
moaning; a sigh
:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten …
(Psa 90:10 NLT) Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach
eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon
they disappear, and we are gone.
If this was indeed written after the events of Kadesh Barnea, this is
pretty heavy. Moses is thinking about all the people that are going to die
before reaching the Promised Land.
:11 even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
(Psa 90:11 NLT) Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your
wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
You cannot exaggerate the wrath of God against sin. God will judge sin.
(Luke 12:4-5 KJV) And I
say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after
that have no more that they can do. {5} But I will forewarn you whom ye shall
fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I
say unto you, Fear him.
If you are not right with God, you ought to be very, very afraid. You are
on incredibly shaky ground.
:12 So teach us to number our days
Lesson
Find God’s will
We will all face God one day and He will ask us what we did with our lives.
(Eph 5:15-17 KJV) See
then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, {16} Redeeming the
time, because the days are evil. {17} Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is.
What is God’s will?
1. It’s His will that we trust in Jesus and be saved.
(1 Tim 2:3-4 NASB) This is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men to be saved and to come to
the knowledge of the truth.
2. It’s God’s will that you be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit
(Eph 5:18 KJV) And be not drunk
with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
When Paul talked about knowing God’s will (Eph. 5:17), this is the next thing that follows. This
is a command.
3. It’s His will that you discover the plans and good works that God has
for you to do.
(Eph 2:10
KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
We will discover more and more of God’s will as we learn
to read and obey God’s Word.
You will find that it’s God’s will for you to live a life
of purity from sexual sin (1Th. 4:3).
You will find that it’s God’s will for you to be a good employee at work
(Eph. 6:5-6)
4. It’s His will that you trust Him.
(Heb 11:6 KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
:13-17 Prayer for mercy
:13 let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
repent – nacham – (Niphal)
to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion
:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy
early – boqer – morning,
break of day; of coming of sunrise; of beginning of day
What did Israel
do in the wilderness early in the morning?
They gathered manna (Exodus 16)
Spend time with God in the morning. Pray and ask Him to be guiding you. Open
the Bible and ask God to speak to you. Let Him feed you with the bread from
heaven.
:15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us
God said they would wander one year for every day that the spies spent in
the land – forty years for forty days. Here Moses prays for restoration, that
God would balance each day of pain with one of joy.
:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us
beauty – no‘am – kindness,
pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour (grace)
Lesson
Restoration
The beauty of the Lord is on us when we come to trust in Jesus. He brings
true restoration.
Illustration
The Trouble Tree (Author
unknown)
The carpenter I hired to help me fix up an old farmhouse had just finished
a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his
electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I
drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet
his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small
tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door,
he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles
and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he
walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me.
I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,”
he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing for
sure, troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I
just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning
I pick them up again. “Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the
morning to pick ‘em up, there ain’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the
night before.”
We find the restoration in Jesus Christ.
It’s His “tree” that we need to learn to touch. Our troubles are healed at the cross.
(1 Pet 2:24 KJV)
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
healed.
Is Jesus your refuge today? If not, will you make Him your refuge? Will you find the wisdom to trust Him?