Word of Encouragement (12/28/2020)
This is the last week of 2020. For obvious reasons, many of us are anxious to be done with this year. But as this year draws to a close, there are important things to think about and reflect on. I think Ps. 90 is a great Scripture passage to help us do just that.
Ps. 90 “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.”
We are told that this Psalm is “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.” In all 150 Psalms, this is the only one that is attributed to Moses. Some of you know that there are five books in the Psalter. This Psalm is the first Psalm of Book 4. Interestingly, Book 4 opens up with this Psalm of Moses. Book 3 ended with Ps. 89 and that Psalm ends on a somewhat dark note. It is true that the last verse of Ps. 89 ends on an upbeat, positive note: “Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen” (Ps. 89:52). But this ending is somewhat abrupt and surprising. Take a look at the few verses right before the last one: “Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, with which your enemies mock, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed” (vv. 49-51).
As you can see, Ps. 89 is a Psalm about God’s covenant with David. But you also see that the covenant seems to be in jeopardy. Contrary to God’s promise, the Davidic king is plundered and scorned (Ps. 89:41) and his throne is cast to the ground (Ps. 89:44). The Psalmist is questioning God’s faithfulness to the covenant because of the mud of humiliation and shame that the Davidic kingship was being dragged through. You can sense the Psalmist’s impatience with God as he felt confused and frustrated. As he surveyed Israel’s past, he could not but affirm God’s faithfulness. But as he surveys the present circumstances of Israel, he sees everything but God’s faithfulness.
Do you feel like that? You can remember the times when your communion with God was sweet and you basked in the sunshine of His favor upon you. But all that seems like a distant memory, slowly eroding by the waves of pain and sorrow. What do you do?
Now enters Ps. 90, “A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.” Why do we have a Psalm of Moses here? As Mark Futato points out, the mention of Moses brings us back to a time before the Davidic dynasty. Why is that important? Because that was the time when the LORD was Israel’s clear, unmistakable, one and only King! In fact, Book 4, which begins with Ps. 90, is known for the Psalms that begin with “The LORD reigns!” affirming the sovereign kingship of God.
Come to think of it, isn’t that the only assurance we really need? Kings and rulers come and go. God’s gifts to us in this world, as wonderful as they are, come and go. Our loved ones come and go. Everything comes and goes. But God is the Lord, seated in His heavenly throne, immovable, immutable, sovereign, and triumphant. He is never out of control. He does all things well. He will make all things right in due time. Have a blessed day as you behold your King, take comfort, and be courageous!