Read Psalm 90-92
& Romans
11:1-21
To discover:
As you read consider what
comfort the psalms give when struggling with life.
To ponder:
This section of
the psalms begins with a psalm of Moses. To a nation journeying through the
desert with no home, it affirms God as the true dwelling place through all
generations (90v1). This would have been a comfort to Israel
when later in exile too. A right perspective to life is then affirmed: Before
the creation and forever, God shall always be God. To him a thousand years are
like a day, and men come and go like grass, as he determines (90v2-6). The
turning of men to dust recalls God’s curse on the first sin (Gen 3v19). And so
Moses describes human mortality in terms of being consumed by God’s anger. He
notes that God sets even secret sin before him, so everyone’s days pass under
his wrath, experiencing trouble and sorrow, and ending in a moan (90v7-10, see
88v15-16). Although the Bible rejects the idea that the degree someone suffers
always corresponds to a degree of sin, here it affirms that suffering in
general is God’s judgement on our race for its rejection of him. And by
stressing that the power of his anger is as great as the fear due him, Moses
teaches that our reverence for God should correspond to the severity of his
outrage at sin (90v11). In the light of all this he prays God would,
nevertheless, teach his people to know how short life is and therefore gain
wisdom in fearing him (90v12). Moreover, he prays for God’s compassion, favour
and unfailing love to make his people and their children glad as he acts for
them, and especially by enabling their work to be established.
The psalm therefore prays home the
message of Ecclesiastes. Life is hard, as we are born into a world under wrath.
What truly matters, therefore, is that we recognize our mortality and make God
our home by reverently fearing and so trusting and obeying him - as is his due.
Moreover, we can experience his love now as we look to him to grant us
satisfaction and joy in our labours, which can offset to some degree the
troubles we face.
Psalm 91 speaks further about those
who have made their home in God. They will find rest and safety through
trusting him, and so need not fear the various threats that can come in life
(91v1-6). Indeed, picturing a battle, the psalmist is bold to say that though
ten thousand fall around the believer, danger will not come near them. They
will simply see the wicked punished – no doubt, in their death (91v7-8). The
reason for the believer’s safety, is that God will command his angels to
protect those who love him (91v9-13, see Matt 4v5-7). Indeed, the psalmist
quotes God declaring he will protect, deliver and grant long life to those who
acknowledge his name (91v14-16).
In being placed after Psalm 90, the
compiler was clearly aware that the righteous can suffer terribly.
Nevertheless, 91v16 shows Psalm 91 is speaking of the believer’s experience in
this life. It should therefore be read as a general statement to Israelites of
God’s promise according to his specific covenant through Moses, to grant them
security and long life if they were faithful (Deut 5v16, 28v1-14). The life
spans of Abraham (175) and Job (140) testify to this principle. As Israel
in the promised land are a paradigm for Christians in the new creation, these
promises do not promise us freedom from suffering or premature death (consider
Jesus), but ultimate deliverance from all suffering and death in the world to
come. Yet the psalm also reminds us that any hardship we do face comes not
randomly, but in the purposes of God; and he will protect us within it, so that
nothing separates us from his love (Rom 8v35-39).
Psalm 92 is a Sabbath psalm (see
title) and so remembers God as creator and redeemer, renewing a right
perspective for the worshipper as he takes time from away from the busyness of
life that can so cloud such an understanding. It is therefore particularly apt
for the busy Christian today. It begins affirming how good and so fitting it is
to give time to praising God as the Most High, proclaiming in song his love and
faithfulness morning and night – topping and tailing the day with focus on him,
as with the morning and evening sacrifices offered at the temple (92v1-3). The
reasons for this praise are God’s “works” and “thoughts.” Although this might
refer to all God does and desires, in context, his thoughts on justice and work
of future judgement are in mind, which the fool does not understand (92v4-7).
God’s thoughts and work regarding salvation are also implied as the Israelites
understood that only when the wicked were destroyed could their kingdom of
righteousness, security and peace be established. And this means God will be
exalted forever, as not only will evildoers be scattered, displaying his
supremacy, but the righteous will be strengthened (the horn), anointed with oil
for God’s service, and flourish even in old age, proclaiming his purity and
strength (92v8-15) – a hint to the realities of everlasting life. The psalm
keeps us mindful, then, of the ultimate fate of the wicked and righteous when
Christ returns.
Praying
it home:
Praise God for
lovingly tempering the hardships of life with joy and satisfaction now, and for
giving us the certain hope of glory to come. Pray that he would keep a right
perspective always before you.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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