Moses: A Heart of Wisdom Reflections for Renewal Series [5] Psalm 90

FOUR COMMON “LIES” ABOUT LIFE A Lie about DEATH: “Death is not relevant to me.”  It’s too far away from me (denial).  It’s too depressing to think about death (avoidance). A Lie about LIFE: “My life is my own—I can do whatever I want to do.”  The American Individualism: I do it my way.  The secular humanism: I am the boss of my life. (= self-God)

FOUR COMMON “LIES” ABOUT LIFE A Lie about SIN: “I can get away with my sins.”  Sin… What sin? Nobody is perfect.  Forgiveness of sin vs. Ramification of sin A Life about LIVING WELL: “To live well means to have ample means for a happy life.”  An illusion of “happiness.”  Living a well-off life vs. Living a well-lived life.

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 1)TWO TRUTHS about Life (vv.1-6): 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, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 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. 5 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 90:1-6

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 1)TWO TRUTHS about Life (vv.1-6):  Truth #1: God is sovereign and eternal.  Truth #2: Life is short and fragile.  God is the creator of all things—being eternal and sovereign.  God is the giver, sustainer, and taker of life.  From the eternal perspective, all human lives are like a dream and grass that exists briefly.  In light of these two foundational truths about life, we are to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in your life humbly.

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 2)THREE REALITIES of Life (vv. 7-11): 7 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

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 2)THREE REALITIES of Life (vv. 7-11):  Reality #1: We can’t hide our sins from God.  Reality #2: We can’t control the brevity of life.  Reality #3: We can’t escape from the consequences of our sins due to the wrath of God.  There is no secret sin hidden before God’s presence.  The wrath of God against all unrighteousness (sins) is the moral justice of God’s holiness.  There is no one who can control the brevity of life which is full of toil and trouble.  In light of these three harsh realities of life, we are to fear God earnestly in our daily lives.

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 3)FOUR ESSENTIALS of Life. (vv.12-17): 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 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. 16 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 90:12-17

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HEART OF WISDOM? 3)FOUR ESSENTIALS of Life. (vv.12-17):  Essential #1: A heart of wisdom to live our lives well.  Essential #2: God’s mercy on our sins.  Essential #3: God’s steadfast love for our joy.  Essential #4: God’s favor on all we do.  The wisdom for “living well” begins with facing the brevity of our lives, which turns us toward eternal, sovereign God.  To live well, it requires us to see our desperate need of God’s mercy, grace, power, and favor on our lives.  In light of these four essentials of life, we are to trust and love God wholeheartedly.

A Heart of Wisdom: A New Testament Example The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. - Apostle Paul, Philippians 3:7-11 [MSG]

THREE QUESTIONS FOR CULTIVATING A HEART OF WISDOM 1.Can I honestly say that I am in the nucleus of God's will? Do I acknowledge God’s sovereignty in my daily lives humbly? 2.Am I really content, genuinely challenged, and fulfilled in my life? Am I “living well”? Do I fear God earnestly? 3.In light of eternity, am I making a consistent investment for God's kingdom and glory with my life? Do I trust and love God wholeheartedly?