THE ETERNAL GOD, and FRAIL MAN – A PRAYER OF MOSES

Psalm 90, is one of the very important scripture portions that, every Christian must read. It helps us to gain, the much needed perspective about eternity, about the Almighty God, and about the frailty, the finiteness, and the futility of man. These critical insights, will help us see God, not only in His majesty, but more importantly, helps us to see ourselves, in the proper and healthy light, that is so much missing, in the modern world that we live in today. Such a perspective, in turn, will help us keep our feet, firmly on the ground, and not jump around, like a dry leaf, on a windy day. John Calvin, the great reformer, has an apt word, for such a context.
– “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their [own] insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.” – John Calvin

Moses begins the Psalm, by acknowledging the greatness, and the grandeur of the LORD God. The God of all creation is, eternally existent, and is uncreated. The good news of great joy – this God Almighty, is our God! He is our dwelling place!!!
– “​1 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, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” – Psalm 90:1-2

Moses then goes on to describe about time, from God’s perspective. Many times we miss this dimension altogether, from our daily discourse. Hence our myopic understanding of God, and who He truly is.
– “4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.” – Psalm 90:4

In verses nine and ten, Moses displays the grandeur of man at his best, so that we gain, a proper and fuller understanding, about man. He simply deflates, all the air from our inflated egos, and our perceived self-importance.
– “9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh.”
– “10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” – Psalm 90:9-10

In verse twelve, Moses hits the final nail, into the coffin, of man’s ego. He just puts out the truth about the “mighty” man, so that good sense is drilled into us, and we find our mental equilibrium, and regain our missing balance.
– “12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

To top up this much need perspective, Moses puts the icing on the cake, in verses sixteen and seventeen. *It is his prayer for sanity.* It should also be, our prayer for sanity, to reign in our hearts, and our minds.
– “16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” – Psalm 90:16-17

How we see God, is very important, in helping us gain the invaluable perspective of, how we see ourselves. If we see God as our “SERVANT” we see ourselves as the “masters” who can simply order and get, whatever we want. God is far far bigger than, our biggest imagination of Him. We are far far tiny and insignificant than, our wildest imaginations of ourselves, at our best. We ought get this balance right, so that, we can have our feet on the ground; our eyes on the LORD, our head lifted up, not out of pride, of our achievements, but in awe of God Almighty, who, in spite of His greatness and grandness, chooses to have fellowship with us…the worthless sinner, deserving nothing but hell.

Oh, what an amazing God is He, the God of the Bible; the God of all creation; the LORD of all the universe; our Creator, our Redeemer and our Master. HalleluYah! Soli Gloria Deo!!!