Psalm 90: 11-12 - September 10, 2009

Ps 90:11-12 "Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." NIV

Man has a tendency to believe in his own invincibility. At times he raises his voice in praise of his own accomplishments and challenges the Lord with a voice of accusation and pride. He continues in his arrogance, believing that because there has been no quick response of judgment that either God is unable to challenge his pride or unwilling to involve himself in the affairs of men. Nebuchadnezzar was such a man. He stood beholding his own kingdom, exalting in his own accomplishments, having despised the warning of the Lord that had come previously, calling him to remember that it was the Lord and not his own power or ability that was the true source of his success and prosperity. His lack of humility and resistance to the Lord’s appeals to his conscience resulted in God’s blessing being lifted and judgment touching his life until he acknowledged that everything he had came from the Lord.
This is but one example of the way of the Lord and the power of His anger to bring correction into the lives of men. The anger of the Lord brought low the Egyptian pharaoh. The anger of the Lord lifted the blessing and the kingdom from the life of Saul. The anger of the Lord released dramatic judgments during the reign of David when he fell into sin, first by his actions towards Bathsheba and her husband and then by the sin of counting the number of Israel’s troops. Each of these examples that is found in scripture can be clearly seen and confirmed countless times throughout the pages of human history if we are willing to recognize God’s sovereignty over all things and acknowledge the clear teachings of scripture that define the nature of God’s judgments and the things that provoke him to wrath. Too often, man in his ignorance of the word of God, endures God’s discipline without even discerning that the hand of God that has been lifted against him. Too often man is willing to curse the Lord for not stopping the calamities that have come but never pauses to consider their cause. Hebrews chapter twelve teaches us that the Lord disciplines those that He loves. Like a father training his children, our God first calls us to repentance before lifting His hand to
chastise and punish.
Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Because this is true it is God’s kindness that motivates Him to punish sin where He finds it, with the hope that a response of correction will train us to love good and fear doing evil. Psalm 90:11-12 is a passage that calls us to learn this wisdom. It calls us to remember a reverent fear of God and the consequences of disobeying his commands. This passage ends with a thoughtful and humble prayer for wisdom. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Truly the psalmist has identified the great need of man. When we gain a right perspective on our own humanity in the light of your divinity we gain wisdom. When we learn the finite nature of this life and the invitation to live with you in the infinite realms of eternal glory we are sobered towards the things of this life and wisdom grows in our hearts. When we realize that true treasures can only be laid up in the heavenly realms through a living relationship with you, the path of life is laid open before us. Lord help us to see these things and live!