April 3, 2023
Passage Read: Psalm 87-90
Meditation Verses: 90:9-15
Thought
Putting this psalm in the context of Moses' life makes it hit with more weight. For forty years, he enjoyed the pleasures and treasures of Egypt; for forty years, he enjoyed (?) the solitude and simplicity of a shepherd's life; and for forty years, he met with God face-to-face and led a nation through the wilderness, a nation known more by its stubbornness and rebellion than by its humility and obedience. I wonder, did he ever regret leaving any of those previous states? Hebrews makes it clear that he left Egypt by choice, choosing God and his people over the pleasures of sin. But God compelled him to leave his life of shepherding. I'm sure caring for sheep or goats in the wilderness was far easier than shepherding people through the wilderness. Writing this song later in life, it makes sense that he would see the wrath of God as life-defining. What is recorded in the Pentateuch sure makes it sound like there was far more wrath than peace and joy. How many times did he see God punish His people before he felt compelled to write this. Yet surely there were large gaps when there was no conflict, at least no public moaning and complaining against God to bring down His wrath. Did he see as many days without conflict as he did days with conflict? Were there days of joy in the simplicity of wilderness life? Surely, if people learned to be content with what they had, with the community and family around them, with the simplicity of their days, surely they would have found a joy in wilderness life. But were they unable to be content with such a simple life? Did their ambitions and lusts continually get the better of them?
Application
Did Moses recognize that all his years of strife and grief, any years he considered wasted and lost, that all of them and far, far more would be repaid in an eternity of peace in God's new world and in His presence? Did the face-to-face conversations with God Himself cover over any of the grief? The day is coming when there will be no more grief and no more wrath, because there will be no more rebellion or sin. There will be far more days of joy and gladness than we ever could have endured of trouble and affliction. In reality, the most trouble and affliction we can endure is only 70 or 80 years' worth, if we have the strength. A thousand years in the reign of Christ far outstrips that, not to mention eternity in the new heavens and earth! Seventy or eighty years of affliction and trouble, especially for the cause of Christ is absolutely nothing in light of eternity in God's kingdom. That is what Paul recognized; that's what allowed Paul to endure affliction and trouble again and again to take the Gospel to ever more people. Do I have to have my days of joy and gladness this side of eternity? Or can I be content to wait for them on the other side of death? It certainly is not so black-and-white. But I do let my wants and wishes get the better of me; I want a trouble-free, a care-free life now. God, help me give that up and really live for You.