Introduction: This Psalm is attributed to Moses and may have been written right before his death as Israel readied itself to enter the Promised Land.
Brief outline:
I. The eternal God chastens His finite people for a purpose – vs.1-11
“Return, ye children of men” vs.3
II. Finite men have an opportunity to respond to God’s chastening – vs.12-17
“Return, O Lord . . .” vs.13
Questions to help us think deeper:
1. Where had Moses dwelt in his lifetime?
Deuteronomy 33:27; I Corinthians 4:11; Hebrews 11:13
2. What can we learn about God from this Psalm?
3. What does this Psalm teach us about time?
4. Summarize Moses’ prayer requests in verses 12-17 – The Psalmist asks for
a. God’s __________________________
b. God’s __________________________
c. God’s __________________________
d. God’s __________________________
e. God’s __________________________
f. God’s __________________________
g. God’s __________________________
h. God’s __________________________
i. God’s __________________________
Questions of personal application:
1. How should this Psalm influence your prayers tonight?
2. Is there a particular verse that speaks to your heart?
Special Quote: Vs 12 – “That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Men are led by reflections upon the brevity of time to give their earnest attention to eternal things; they become humble as they look into the grave which is so soon to be their bed, their passions cool in the presence of mortality, and they yield themselves up to the dictates of unerring wisdom; but this is only the case when the Lord himself is the teacher; he alone can teach to real and lasting profit. Thus Moses prayed that the dispensations of justice might be sanctified in mercy. “The law is our school master to bring us to Christ”, when the Lord himself speaks by the law. It is most meet that the heart which will so soon cease to beat should while it moves be regulated by wisdom’s hand. A short life should be wisely spent. We have not enough time at our disposal to justify us in misspending a single quarter of an hour. Neither are we sure of enough life to justify us in procrastinating for a moment. If we were wise in heart we should see this, but mere head wisdom will not guide us aright” (C. H. Spurgeon).
