Deuteronomy 29 – 34 and Psalm 90

The book of Deuteronomy concludes with “The Song Of Moses”, the final blessing of Moses upon Israel and the poignant scene with Moses looking into the land he will never set foot upon. We learn his “eyes were undimmed, and his vigor unabated” (Deuteronomy 34:7) even at the age of 120. Adding in the words of Psalm 90, Moses had not only a spring in his step, but a song on his heart as he passed into eternity. Shouldn’t he have been sad? Not when he understood that his reward was not in this life and his hope is in God alone. It’s an eternal perspective we must adopt to be pleasing to Yahweh.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Again we see the great choice set before them (and, ultimately, each of us). Mindless, slavish devotion is not what Yahweh desires or commands – rather, it is LOVE for Him. Taking on the perspective that my life is not about me and the days granted to me on the earth should be used to glorify Yahweh Elohim Shaddai is our calling. It is the perspective of the servant Moses whose flaws kept him out of the physical land of promise, but whose God ushered him into the eternal land of promise.

Consider the depth of insight in Psalm 90:

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 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. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 90:1-11

As I truly sense my insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe Yahweh created, I can begin to see His immense majesty. Now, I can see my world like Moses saw his.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 90:12

It’s not a countdown until you die that Moses speaks about her, rather a perspective that cherishes each and every day as another gift from God to be used for His glory. From this worldview comes wisdom from above to guide our steps.

Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 90:13-14

May we be content in the blessings of each day.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 90:15

May we find the joy of the LORD even in the struggles of life.

Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 90:16

May we seek and find the work Yahweh has placed before us.

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! 90:17

May we find the power of His grace as we pursue His purpose in our lives.

Consider His nature. Consider His ways. Strive to love Him more!