Psalm 90
This Psalm has a wonderful heading in my Esv bible, ‘A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God’.
While many if not all the psalms are prayers, to be titled as such is unique and it quantifies the statement ‘man of God’.
The most alluring aspect of Jesus’s ministry was his prayer life. In fact it is quite extraordinary that the gospel narratives are not full of accounts of the apostles and others asking the Lord for the same abilities to do the miraculous! Peter did ask the Lord to beckon him onto the water, but outside of that we have no documented occasions where the apostles actually asked for the same enabling.
This is a profound truth, that when God is moving in the miraculous he is not fostering an environment that places a burden upon the individual soul to be able to do the supernatural. All the people rejoiced when the healing took place, and gave glory to God for such things. They fostered a belief in the revelation of God towards man as being a healer, forgiver and restorer – not based upon a penal code but an extravagant kindness.
The environment that inhabited the miracles of Jesus liberated those who witnessed them. On every occasion a message was communicated: God loves you. This message was not confined to the direct beneficiary. Oh no, as what God does for one is for all, therefore, we can rejoice at another’s healing without despondency concerning are own physical ailment. The multitude imbibed the message and it lead to a women with an issue of blood hearing of Jesus & to a blind beggar at the road side knowing within himself that ‘love that is moved by the feeling of are infirmities’ was passing by. This blind man had never seen Jesus & never seen a miracle happen from afar, but he knew the sound of Joy that money cant buy, that which had lead to spikes in the beggars bowl or perhaps a communication personal rather than a dime. Of how much more value is a word spoken to a soul communicating hope rather than compounding a status quo.
Had an angel walked and sowed the seed upon the Jericho road, perhaps Gods providence wanted all to hear the reciprocated cry. Heavens cinema may make known.
We do know through reading the gospel narratives that the apostles did not lack ambition nor was their focus upon those in need. They argued among themselves who was the greatest, what was the comparison and measure for such a debate.
During the miraculous, new covenant truth was being communicated to the inward souls of men. He who had come, could be no other: Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.
Liberating truth was present in their midst, and all knew it was not partial.
Hence the gospel, is good news to every nation not just its health nor its prosperity.
A nation that truly trusts and honors God will be a beacon of freedom.
The apostolic journey started with desiring to see where he dwelt.
The apostles did ask Jesus how to pray. The apostles, carnal in debate as they were, desired relationship & communion with God as Father. When Jesus healed and moved in the supernatural, it made those who followed him, want relationship with God. Not to have power, but communion.
Man is made to relate with God.
Light is light because Jesus and his Father are one. Darkness is overcome through new covenant truth, not the letter of the law.
Prayer of Moses, The Man of God.
We know that the most unique aspect concerning Moses was not that he single handedly overcame 1,000 Philistines with an Ass’s jawbone. No, we know that it was his encounters and daily with God that set him apart. Moses was a man, defined by his prayer life and intercessory before the throne of God, on behalf of the people. And in that truth he was a prophet and leader who mirrored the possession and inheritance of the new covenant man to come after him: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses made it to the borders of the Jordon, because mercy, is the only baton that can lead the people across: the Father is well pleased when new covenant truth is heralded, ‘Behold, BEHOLD the Lamb of God, who takes way the sins of the world’.
Psalm 90, starts with Lordship.
Psalm 90, starts with new covenant truth. It is not by chance that the opening text of the New Testament excludes Moses but illuminates His generation. This is certainly not a rejection of the old, oh no, it is rather a fulfillment of prophecy. Moses is revealed in the new, as abiding still in that place that had taught him rest, above the plains communing with the Father and Son.
What a word of truth comes out of the first verse of this psalm. Nuclear war does not shake it, nor plagues of locust or frogs.
This word speaks to are spirit.
It speaks straight to are spirits because this man is of God, and knows God, and moves and has his being in God.
Veils! Veils of unbelief, veils of separation, veils of activity full of other things.
This word speaks to are spirit of the real reality and purpose of God, this word is full of the prophetic new creation, the unison between man and God of purpose. Harmony between that which has been created with the Creator. Singing, I am sure Paul did as he penned the hope in Christ being the praise of his glory.
Moses is known as a mountain man. He reached great heights, naturally and spiritually, but they had not elevated him, oh no, they had only taught him that he must decrease. Before the mountains, before the earth and the universe, God reigned. The knowledge of God had brought humility because God underpins all, that, matter. God is humble and will not abide with pride.
The Man of God: from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
This excludes Buddha, Confucius, Caesar, Darwin, Dawkins, Mohammed and Zoroastrianism.
The man of God, had encountered God and the truth found in that encounter was a Rock that the gates of hell shall not prevail against. Revealed truth does not change, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Moses prayer starts with worship. A full acknowledgement of God, and his protective stance towards his people. Moses knows that Gods word is truth and that God keeps his promises.
Then it turns to the complete fallibility of man, not under the lead now of man, but rather still the everlasting authority of God, and his commitment to his covenant: which was sealed before time began.
You return man to dust and say, ‘Return O children of man’. No man past has been able to contradict this authority.
Moses was keenly aware of flood. Such events had been passed down to him, enabling him to write the first five books of the Bible.
Moses had experienced in his own life, biblical floods, when crossing the Red Sea, and a separation coming between chariots of hardened hearts with the narrative of Sonship: the son is born free, ‘Let my people Go’.
Yet, Moses is not penning these verses for a select few, oh no, he is speaking towards all who shall be returned unto dust. He is speaking of all who have descended from Adam.
For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Having established the wonder and glory of God, Moses deals with the reality of fallen and corrupted man. This is therefore, a message of great hope, from the man of God.
The man who first encountered God upon a mountain. After having returned a man to dust, and having had to flee into the wilderness, to remain there for the rest of his life, unless the light of Gods presence heard the corporate Bartimaeus’s. Who under the weight of oppression could not see the rising sun, but only the dust of their return.
Moses, spans 1000 years years as being to the Lord a day. Akin possibly to the days that passed until the great flood. Yet, he makes it personal relating it to the life of one, to 70 or 80 years. Moses touches upon history and the here and now; these things are to be considered by every generation and every individual.
Moses uses an interesting illustration from creation, of the grass in the morning and the evening. He uses the illustration in the direct context of man being returned to dust and of mans secret sins not being hidden from the Lord. Here we are pressing upon a contrast between Gods original intention for man, and the fallen nature of man. The purpose and will of God, is that man should have everlasting life, unto everlasting life.
The daily cycle of life each and every day is set in motion so that we may prepare are hearts for eternity. An eternal day. We do not want an eternity eternally separated from his presence and his light. Hell will not be a forgiving domain, rather full of bitter souls with no hope or escape.
This gets to the crux of it.
So teach us to number are days that we may get a heart of wisdom. One day we will have to give account for are lives before his presence. And truly wisdom desires to hear the words: well done thou good and faithful servant and not ‘I never knew you depart from me you who worked iniquities and refused to depart from walking in darkness’.
Moses starts with the glory of God and then after a concentration on mans utter fallibility he returns the Lord. Return, O Lord. Yet, even in the concentration upon utter fallibility and corruption, the same enduring light is shinning. Therefore, today is the day of salvation, if you have ears to hear. Be ye reconciled to God.
Not a song of woe, woe is me.
Satisfy us in the morning. A new song. Satisfy us with your steadfast love.
What a magnificent return. Such a return can only be possible if a remedy was provided before Moses heard the words ‘Moses, Moses’, upon that mountain top.
What a magnificent return. Having pressed into the rebellious nature of man that hinders God from lavishing his love upon the sons of men. He returns to the only secure place, the place where he started, the new covenant which is the secured truth for ever generation.
Is there not indeed a resurrection here. Is there not a glad note, rejoicing in steadfast love.
What manner of yes is this. Gods work having been shown to his servants! Yes, establish the work of our hands. Having seen Gods finished work, and to press on into conformity to his image. A reciprocated cry, that I may know Him and the power of his resurrection. Yes.
Yes, this yes is not religious obligation or a mantra of works. It is spoken as a unified revelation, the outworking of the Father and the Son, the three in one. It is spontaneous liberating freedom expressed at being one with God. That which Moses had prayed and requested here at the close, he recognized was the heart of the issue. New Covenant truth, is seeing the work of Gods hands nailed to that cursed tree of anger, wrath and dismay.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel Ch 11 v19, plural).
‘It is Finished’, closing words of the God man, his final prayer in his earthly ministration: and the veil was torn in two.
After, the Father affirmed his exceeding good pleasure in every work his Son had done. Prior to the miraculous, prior to the multitude. That is what attractive them to follow, he had walked with God in the secret place, no hidden thing or ambition had been in any of his work as he sized and planed the wood within his fathers workshop.
After this affirmation, the disciples followed him. Let your work be shown to your servants. May are children be taught and learn the way of the Lord, for it is a transition from old to young, one generation to another (Hosea Ch 14 v9), and it comes with a promise of healing, early in the morning he rose to teach: you are healed by my wings, as my steadfast love gives life to all life upon earth simply walk in my light. Rising from the dust of the earth, he stood lifted up high on her behalf.
The Church follows him, and his return from the grave and his final return. Fear him only, not poverty nor rumors of war. We teach and preach Him.
What a return! She did not have to fear death now, nor that great day of Judgment. She knew him as Rabboni, the one who had spoken life into her grave of trespasses.
Did she not leap as a calve from the stall, to tell his disciples he was risen indeed, and had appeared to her in the garden of paradise lost.
No man Lord. What, not even Moses. No man from any generation. Only Jesus can save.
Yes! He must increase. Yes, hear Him only.
But oh yes! Not Oh no, he has called us, his Church to be partakers in his wondrous work
Matthew Ch 28 v16-20
Mark Ch 16 v14-20.
‘And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord WORKED WITH THEM and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
How will anyone believe ransomed fallible transgressors unless the Lord Works with them confirming the message true. His Spirit is the eternal Spirit and it is this witness that speaks into the souls of men.
The Lord worked with them. Fishermen, not classically trained. Men who had lived and eaten and breathed with him, and who denied the distinctiveness of all his miracles when pressed into a corner by hardened sons of men.
Yes! Gods steadfast love wants to turn your night into day. Your sins that have been as red as scarlet to be cleansed as white as snow
Yes the vilest offender who truly believes.
Yes the chief of sinners.
The promises of God are Yes & Amen. Yes and ‘It is Finished’.
N.B.
Last week I spoke on the phone at work with two persons with the surname ‘Dempster’. One of whom seemed somewhat reluctantly to conceded a knowledge of the author of the book ‘Finding men for Christ’. He mentioned a particular Methodist Church in London and so on Friday evening I tried to establish if it was such.
While engaged in that I came upon the following article, which blessed my greatly, as I strongly doubt it made its way into any of his books of testimony.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/32/a2450332.shtml
I have just finished a book I have been reading over a number of months. The author refers at his close, that his Fathers life still speaks though his body has been returned to dust, through in part the legacy of print, video and library et all. But mostly the blessing of that heritage passed down, that has opened a sons eyes to ‘see’ all that Jesus did at Calvary. And continue the work of the gospel mandate. From one generation to another.
So I am now free to read a book centered on the importance of prayer time, being today.
eternalrays 