Sermon by Tian Meng
As we come to the end of 2018 and reflect on the year, we wonder if have we spent our time meaningfully and if we have been pursuing the right things? This sermon reminds us of God’s majesty, mankind’s limitations, and that the meaning in life can only be derived from Christ.
Context
Moses wrote this psalm, largely as a prayer, chiefly for Israel.
This psalm can be split into three sections, with time (viewed from both God and Man) being a common theme. The three sections are:
Section 1 - The eternal God (v1-2)
In v1, we are reminded that God has been Israel’s dwelling place, or security, for generations (simply beyond our understanding). He is the creator, who outlives us and is greater and bigger than us. V4 gives us an analogy: a thousand years in our understanding is to Him, a day or a mere watch in a night (the Jews divide any given night into 4-hours blocks called watches). Compared to an eternal God, time is trivial.
Section 2 - Mankind’s short and meaningless life (v3-11)
In contrast, mankind is likened to grass, which comes and goes quickly, all within a day (v5-6). When the time is up, man ceases to exist and is destroyed (or returned to dust). In 2018, how have we been living our lives? Have we been slogging away at work or school? Are we spending time on things that won’t count for eternity? In v10, it reminds us that even if mankind were to live a long life, all the efforts and achievements would be temporal, painful, and full of sorrow. Why is mankind’s life so short and meaningless? It is due to God’s judgement and wrath on the children of men, referring to the descendants of Adam (v3b). In Genesis 3:19, due to Adam’s sin, mankind has since been condemned to die and to return to dust. V 7 to 11 highlight the extent of God’s anger and when our sinful lives are laid bare before a holy God (v8), there can only be wrath.
As Christians who know that God’s wrath has already been spent on Christ, sometimes, the danger lies when we don’t fear His wrath anymore. We forget about His holiness and how He treats our sins seriously. For instance, when we enter His presence during service with a terrible attitude, we take it for granted that nothing happens to us. Let's appreciate His grace but also strive to honour our Lord!
Mankind’s life is short and meaningless, our right response is to recognise God’s wrath and fear Him accordingly (v11).
Section 3 - Redeeming our lives (v12-17)
How do we fear God?
● Spend our days count (towards God’s causes). In v12, Moses prayed that God would
teach the Israelites to number (or attribute significance) to their days. Don’t simply count our physical days or try to make our days count by chasing after earthly riches, but make our days, or remaining time on earth, count (towards God’s causes)!
● Pray for God’s mercy. Moses pleaded for God to have mercy and to return to Israel,
calling on God’s personal name (Jehovah) and the covenant between Israel and God
(v13). As we grow to recognise God’s wrath, may we pray for more of His mercy.
● Know that our meaningless lives can be redeemed. To experience joy and gladness,
know that only God can satisfy us with His mercy (v14). In contrast to v6, where man is
depicted to flourish in the morning and wither in the evening, v14 gives hope that God’s
mercies can satisfy us every morning (also highlighted in Lamentations 3:22-23) and we
can be filled with joy as we are reconciled with God.
● Acknowledge God’s works and glory. May we acknowledge and marvel at His
creation, Christ’s death on the cross, Christ’s resurrection, and other works of God (v16-
17). But more importantly, may we acknowledge God Himself and desire that we
encounter His favour.
The facts will not change - we, as children of Adam, will face death one day. However, it doesn’t mean that we experience no joy and all sorrow as real joy can be obtained from walking closely with God. May this psalm gives us hope for 2019 and reminds us to acknowledge His wrath and fear Him accordingly!
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O
Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with
thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the
days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy
work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 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. (Psalms 90:12-17)
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