A Disciple Moment: A Rhetorical Question

Last week we were delving into Jeramiah and Ezekile. I love the imagry of the Valley of Dry bones.

This week we are reading the Psalms.

I noticed somethng today as I was finished up this weeks study.

Psalm 90 was written my Moses, one of the oldest of the psalms.

Moses shares his thoughts on God’s eternal nature and man’s limited time on earth by reminding us all that we are like the grass that springs up in the morning but by evening is dried up and withered away.

God is everlasting and we are not.

As I read through this psalm this morning I noticed what, in my opinion, is a perfect example of a rhetorical question.

PS 90: 11

“Who knows the power of your anger?”

Do you think that Moses was looking for an answer?

After witnessing the power God firsthand, he watched the plagues descend upon Egypt. He stood by and watched the firstborn fall into death. He witnessed the power of God’s presence as it passed over all the faithful during that first night of Passover. He saw the waters parted, was lead by the pillars of smoke and fire, sustained himself on the manna, quail and water from the rock. Moses saw firsthand God’s power.

Moses did not require an answer to this question because he already know first hand just how awesome God’s power is.

I think there is also a warning within this question. To paraphrase Moses “Y’all don’t wanna see the power of God’s anger now do you? Do ya really wanna see it?”

This rhetorical question is followed up by a heartfelt request.

PS 90:12

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

He had seen God’s retribution against the Egyptians. Moses had seen the punishment handed down against the Israelites for their disobedience. He had seen the power of God’s anger and he, in my opinion, wanted to learn from the past and move forward in wisdom.

So who knows the power of God’s anger? Moses did and if we are resurrection people then we must also acknowledge that although we are free from the law through Christ sacrifice, we are also grafted into that long and beautiful Hebraic history. We must also learn from those mistake.

I must look at my own behavior and try to see it for what it is. Am I stiff necked in my thinking? Am I bowing down to man made idols like television and popular culture? I have to ask myself to look keenly at how I am spending my time and my energy?

My days are numbered and I am on a perpetual journey to gain a heart of wisdom.

Over the last 12 weeks I have felt so very close to God as I have steeped myself in His word.

We can never be closed to God than when we are on a steady diet of His living word.

Today I have to lift up a prayer of thanks for the Patriarchs, to Moses for the words I read this morning.

Awesome, just awesome!

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

1Lord, you have been our dwelling place

throughout all generations.

2Before the mountains were born

or you brought forth the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3You turn men back to dust,

saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”

4For a thousand years in your sight

are like a day that has just gone by,

or like a watch in the night.

5You sweep men away in the sleep of death;

they are like the new grass of the morning—

6though in the morning it springs up new,

by evening it is dry and withered.

7We are consumed by your anger

and terrified by your indignation.

8You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9All our days pass away under your wrath;

we finish our years with a moan.

10The length of our days is seventy years—

or eighty, if we have the strength;

yet their span^a is but trouble and sorrow,

for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11Who knows the power of your anger?

For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?

Have compassion on your servants.

14Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16May your deeds be shown to your servants,

your splendor to their children.

17May the favor^b of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us—

yes, establish the work of our hands.