Scripture Reading
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
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.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
(Psalm 90, ESV)
Slide
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but to improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
*6. Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live.*
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
Slide
Psalm 90
A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God
I. The Eternality of God
II. The Sovereignty of God
III. The Severity of God
IV. The Mercy of God
Slide
I. The Eternality of God
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:1-2, ESV)
Slide
II. The Sovereignty of God
You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (Psalm 90:3-6, ESV)
God is sovereign over our lives.
God is sovereign over time.
We are neither.
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III. The Severity of God
For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (Psalm 90:7-11, ESV)
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Anchor Statement:
“So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, ESV)
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IV. The Grace of God
“Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.” (Psalm 90:13-15, ESV)
Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:16-17, ESV)
Slide
Reflection
1. Humility
2. Dependency
3. Urgency
Community Group Notes:
1. Read Psalm 90 in its entirety. Where do you see the following themes:
a. God’s Eternality
b. God’s Sovereignty
c. God’s Severity
d. God’s Grace
2. What is the relationship between the first three themes and the last theme? How does our awareness of grace grow in light of God’s eternality, sovereignty, and severity towards sin?
3. What are appropriate ways to “number our days” as Moses prayed in 90:12? What does godly urgency look like in the life of a Christian?
4. Suggested words for reflection from this passage are: Humility, dependency, and urgency. Which of these three words might be challenging for you in this new year?
5. Praise Reports & Prayer Requests